HK COURT KEEPS 47 ACTIVISTS IN CUSTODY

Hong Kong, March 4: A Hong Kong court on Thursday ordered all 47 pro-democracy activists charged under a Beijingimposed national security law to be kept in custody after the Department of Justice appealed an initial decision to grant bail to 15 of them. Thirty-two of the activists were denied bail outright. The next court hearing is on May 31.

The activists were charged with conspiracy to commit subversion under the security law and detained over their involvement in an unofficial primary election last year that authorities said was a plot to paralyze Hong Kong's government. The charges against the activists were the most sweeping action taken against the city's pro-democracy camp.