Internet radio host “Giggs” Edmund Wan Yiu-sing, who is charged with sedition, is again refused bail and will be remanded until his court appearance on May 10.
An emotional family member tried to touch him inside the dock but was called to a stop.
Wan Yiu-sing, 52, faced four counts of acting with seditious intent against the central and Hong Kong governments. No plea has been taken yet.
Chief magistrate Victor So Wai-tak had earlier rejected Wan’s bail application and adjourned the case to May 10.
Wan filed another bail application to the High Court, but it was rejected again by designated national security judge Esther Toh Lye-ping yesterday and Wan had to be remanded.
Wan’s relatives became emotional upon hearing the court’s decision. His daughter even put her hands into the dock and grabbed her father’s hands, but it was stopped by correctional services officers quickly.
More than a hundred supporters appeared outside the High Court yesterday, including cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, activists Raphael Wong Ho-ming and Bull Tsang Kin-shing.
Wan once burst into tears when he entered the courtroom and saw his supporters greeting him.
Wan was accused of intending to "bring hatred or contempt, or excite disaffection" against the central and SAR governments, exciting discontent or disaffection among Hongkongers and suggesting disobedience of the law.
He allegedly committed the offenses when hosting his online radio shows on August 8, August 15, September 5 and October 10 last year.
Another activist charged under the national security law Tony Chung Hon-lam was also rejected bail at the District Court yesterday
Chung, 19, was charged with a count of secession and a count of conspiring to publish seditious content, as well as two counts of money laundering.
The defense counsel said Chung will plead not guilty to the charges. The case has been adjourned to June 1 by judge Amanda Jane Woodcock and a pre-trial review was scheduled on August 16.
