A bail hearing for 47 militants, election candidates and activists accused of crimes against national security in Hong Kong was resumed after at least four defendants were taken by ambulance during Monday’s marathon, which lasted until 3 am. morning.
The group was accused under Hong Kong’s national security law of conspiracy to commit subversion in relation to an unofficial pan-democratic primary vote held last year before the parliamentary elections that were later postponed.
Prosecutors asked for the bail to be denied and the case was postponed for three months to allow more time for investigation. The defense was opposed, questioning why accusations were made if the case was so far from ready. At 11pm on Monday, only six applications had been processed.
Democrat and district councilor Clarisse Yeung collapsed in court around 1:45 am and was taken to the hospital. Businessman Mike Lam, district councilor Roy Tam and former lawmaker Leung Kwok hanging from “Long Hair” were also taken by ambulance, according to local media. A co-defendant, Andy Chui Chi-kin, was reportedly admitted to the hospital for reasons unknown before Monday’s hearing.
A post on Yeung’s Facebook page said she had lunch at noon and did not receive food again until midnight because of long delays in court. She was receiving saline and awaiting a CT scan on Tuesday.
The court struggled to accommodate all members of the prosecution, defense team and 47 accused individuals. There were allegations that some defendants were unable to speak to their legal teams and other complications caused by the unexpected arrest of a defense attorney, allegedly on suspicion of police obstruction.
More than 1,000 supporters gathered in front of the court on Monday, protesting the arrest of what they call “political prisoners”. The South China Morning Post reported that 42 people were fined for violating Covid-19’s collection rules, and the crowd did not return the next day.
Tuesday’s hearing started without Yeung’s presence. Benny Tai, the accused organizer of the polls, was also absent because he appeared in court in a different case.
Officials say the defendants plotted candidates who could win a majority of the 70 seats on the legislative council, with the intention of indiscriminately blocking legislation, “paralyzing” parliament and forcing the resignation of the chief executive.
Fifty-five people were arrested at the polls in January, attracting international condemnation and skepticism even from some pro-Beijing politicians, who noted that the primary elections were unofficial but were commonplace on both sides of Hong Kong politics.
Authorities have not said whether they intend to prosecute the remaining eight, including American lawyer John Clancey.
Using national security law, the authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing mounted a broad and severe crackdown on all signs of opposition, promising to ensure that only “patriots” – supporters of the Communist Party – can rule in Hong Kong.
The head of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Bureau in Beijing called for the “severe punishment” of three prominent activists, two of whom are among the accused this week.
Xia Baolong said in a recent speech that arrested activist Joshua Wong and jurist Tai were “the most cruel traitors”, according to a transcript published by the pro-Beijing magazine Bauhinia.
China’s two-session parliamentary forums, which start this week, are widely expected to announce new electoral laws for Hong Kong.
Hong Kong security secretary John Lee Ka-chiu defended national security law in a webinar on Monday during a meeting of the UN human rights council.
“The effect of the law is obvious and straightforward,” he said, according to a transcript. “Violence has dropped significantly. Hong Kong’s defense of independence has diminished. People arrested for crimes in public order incidents fell by 50% in five months. Stability and order have been restored. “
Associated Press contributed to this report