HONG KONG COURT RESUMES HEARING FOR 47 PRO-DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS

HONG KONG: A court hearing for 47 pro-democracy activists charged under Hong Kong’s national security law resumed on Tuesday, following a marathon session that was adjourned well past midnight after four defendant appeared to collapse and was taken away in an ambulance.

The court is weighing whether to grant bail to the activists, who were detained and charged on Sunday over their involvement in an unofficial primary election last year that authorities say was part of a plot to paralyse Hong Kong’s government.

Less than half of the bail proceedings were heard on Monday when the court adjourned the session at 2am. The hearing resumed in the morning, although four defendants who were taken to the hospital in the early hours were not present in the morning session.

The national security law, which China imposed on Hong Kong last June in response to months of anti-government protests, makes it a crime to overthrow, seriously interfere in, disrupt or undermine Hong Kong’s government.

The controversial law, which also criminalises acts that incite Hong Kong’s secession from China, collusion with foreign powers and terrorism, has largely silenced protest in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory.

The 47 activists, who include prominent leaders such as Joshua Wong and Benny Tai, were among 55 arrested in January on suspicion of subversion in what was by far the biggest sweep by police since the security law’s enactment. The 47 were formally charged on Sunday.