Chinese imposed laws keep 47 Hong Kong activists in jail

ALL 47 of the pro-democracy activists involved in a Hong Kong subversion case were returned to custody last night after a marathon hearing ended with them being denied bail.

Prosecutors objected to the court’s decision to grant bail to 15 of the defendants, meaning all would stay in detention until the trial begins on May 31.

The accused include prominent activists in the city, such as Joshua Wong, Benny Tai and Jimmy Sham.

The announcement came after proceedings went into a fourth day. Victor So, the chief magistrate, had adjourned the previous night at 8:30pm, while on Monday they ran as late as 3am.

Hundreds of people queued in the rain outside the courthouse in West Kowloon before proceedings began.

“I’m here to show my support,” said a woman in her 30s who asked to be identified by only her family name Siu.

The proceedings took place as China’s legislature began its annual meeting today in Beijing. A senior Chinese official later confirmed Beijing’s intention to overhaul Hong Kong’s electoral system to ensure “patriots” are in charge, potentially the biggest blow to the former colony’s democracy since its handover from British rule in 1997.

Zhang Yesui, for the National People’s Congress, said it had the constitutional power to “improve” Hong Kong’s system and a draft decision would be discussed at the parliamentary session today.

Opposition activists are being prosecuted over a primary that drew more

than 600,000 voters in July last year to choose candidates for Legislative Council elections that were later postponed.

Authorities say the vote and plans to force the resignation of Carrie Lam, the chief executive, using a provision of the mini-constitution, were an illegal bid to paralyse the government.

On Wednesday Hong Kong arrested the 100th person under security laws China imposed on the city last year.