Bail denials and electoral reform a 'further blow to Hong Kong'.

On 4 March 2020, the judgment was given for the appeal for bail of 47 Hong Kong activists facing trial under the National Security Law.

32 of those facing trial were denied bail. 15 were granted bail but the Department of Justice made an appeal immediately. They will also remain in custody until the appeal hearing.

The Chinese National People's Congress also announced electoral reforms, increasing the Hong Kong Chief Executive election committee from 1,200 to 1,500 voters and the Hong Kong Legislative Council from 70 to 90 seats according to local news outlet Now News.

Benedict Rogers, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Watch, says: "These two decisions are a further blow to Hong Kong. To deny bail to many of the most moderate members of the Hong Kong democratic camp is an appalling step which strips them of basic human dignity. We condemn this in the strongest possible terms.

The decision around electoral reform will ensure that the majority of the population are never able to take control of the Legislative Council. The result will be that there is never meaningful hope of the democrats winning ever - doubtless this is Beijing's intention, but it is another breach of international law."

The 47 facing charges

張可森 Sam Cheung Ho-sum

王百羽 Henry Wong Pak-yu

岑敖暉 Lester Shum Ngo-fai 

梁晃維 Fergus Leung Fong-wai

鄒家成 Owen Chow Ka-shing 

黃子悅 Wong Ji-yuet 

何桂藍 Gwyneth Ho Kwai-lam

袁家蔚 Tiffany Yuen Ka-wai 

劉頴匡 Ventus Lau Wing-hong

朱凱廸 Eddie Chu Hoi-dick

伍健偉 Ng Kin-wai 

呂智恆 Hendrick Lui Chi-hang

柯耀林 Ricky Or Yiu-lam 

彭卓棋 Michael Pang Cheuk-kei 

楊雪盈 Clarisse Yeung Suet-ying

徐子見 Andy Chui Chi-kin

馮達浚 Frankie Fung Tat-chun

劉澤鋒 Nathan Lau Chak-fung

劉偉聰 Lawrence Lau Wai-chung 

毛孟靜 Claudia Mo Man-ching 

李嘉達 Kinda Li Ka-tat

余慧明 Winnie Yu Wai-ming

林景楠 Mike Lam King-nam

楊岳橋 Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu 

鄭達鴻 Cheng Tat-hung

郭家麒 Kwok Ka-ki

譚文豪 Jeremy Tam Man-ho

李予信 Lee Yue-shun

尹兆堅 Andrew Wan Siu-kin

黃碧雲 Helena Wong Pik-wan

林卓廷 Lam Cheuk-ting 

范國威 Gary Fan Kwok-wai 

譚凱邦 Roy Tam Hoi-pong 

陳志全 Ray Chan Chi-chuen

岑子杰 Jimmy Sham Tsz-kit

梁國雄 Leung Kwok-hung

何啟明 Kalvin Ho Kai-ming

施德來 Sze Tak-loy 

吳敏兒 Carol Ng Man-yee

吳政亨 Gordon Ng Ching-hang 

區諾軒 Au Nok-hin

趙家賢 Andrew Chiu Ka-yin

戴耀廷 Benny Tai Yiu-ting

鍾錦麟 Ben Chung Kam-lun

NewsHong Kong Watch