11 of the 47 democracy advocates charged with “conspiracy to commit subversion” under the national security law were released on bail as the High Court finished the last batch of bail reviews on Monday.

Madam Justice Esther Toh dismissed the government’s appeal against a lower court’s decision to grant bail to three of the defendants on Monday, releasing district councilors Kalvin Ho, Lee Yue-shun and Sze Tak-loy on stringent conditions.

However, Sam Cheung, district councilor of Tuen Mun, was remanded back in custody after Toh revoked his bail in the morning session.

“I love you,” Cheung shouted in court to his pregnant wife before he was taken away, while she wept as the ruling was announced.

Two diplomats, Charles Whiteley from the European Union Office to Hong Kong and Joakim Ladeborn, Deputy Consul General of Sweden, observed the bail proceedings at the High Court.

After last week’s hearings, only four were released on bail and three had their jail time extended, including former Civic Party lawmakers Jeremy Tam and Kwok Ka-ki.

The trial is scheduled on May 31.

The 47 politicians and advocates organized or participated in the pro-democracy camp’s primary election last summer, in which over 600,000 Hongkongers cast their votes. They were accused of attempting to topple the government by winning a majority in the legislature.

The Legislative Council elections, now postponed till September on public health grounds, may be further delayed after Beijing approved a drastic overhaul of Hong Kong’s electoral system last Thursday.

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