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Explainer | Hong Kong national security law: election bans, travel curbs, and more time in jail. What future awaits city’s opposition with 47 defendants charged in biggest case yet?

  • Fifteen of the group were granted bail but remain in custody after prosecutors appealed decision
  • Unprecedented length of court proceedings generated attention at home and abroad, and full implications of cases are unknown

Reading Time:5 minutes
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Supporters of the 47 former opposition lawmakers and activists gather and chant slogans outside the West Kowloon Court on Monday. Photo: Nora Tam

Despite only being a bail hearing, the attention generated by the marathon proceedings surrounding the fate of 47 Hong Kong opposition activists has been unprecedented.

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After 28 hours spread over four days, a city court finally decided on Thursday night to grant bail to 15 of the defendants charged with subversion under the national security law, but prosecutors immediately appealed against the decision.

That appeal meant those granted bail remained in custody, a move that triggered condemnation from the defendants’ supporters, family members and human rights groups.

Here are the key details of the landmark proceedings and what the outcomes could mean for the city’s opposition.

Former opposition lawmakers and activists leave the Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre on Tuesday en route to their bail hearing. Photo: Winson Wong
Former opposition lawmakers and activists leave the Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre on Tuesday en route to their bail hearing. Photo: Winson Wong
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What was the case about and how was it different from other hearings?

A total of 47 opposition activists and former lawmakers, who either organised or joined the camp’s internal primaries last year for the now-postponed Legislative Council elections, were charged with violating Article 22(3) of the national security law by conspiring to “subvert state power” last Sunday.
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