The High Court overturned a lower court’s grant of bail to district councillor Ng Kin-wai, one of the 47 democracy advocates charged under the national security law, shortly after the judge released Helena Wong, another defendant of the case, on Thursday.

Ng and Wong were among 15 defendants who were granted bail by the District Court in last week’s marathon hearings. 11 of them remained in detention after the Department of Justice immediately lodged an appeal.

Ng was immediately remanded back in custody after Court of First Instance Judge Esther Toh, who presided over the appeal hearings, announced her ruling. “Hang in there everyone, see you in 10 years!” the 25-year-old social activist shouted before he was taken away.

Former lawmaker Helena Wong was released on stringent conditions after Madam Justice Toh rejected the government’s challenge of her bail. They include being barred from making any speech or action that could be reasonably deemed a violation of the national security law, contacting any foreign official or organizing an unofficial election. She is also placed under a curfew and had her travel documents confiscated.

Wong’s husband, Shae Wan-chaw, breathed a sigh of relief after the ruling was announced.

Toh said she has received a joint petition from media workers, requesting that the court lift reporting restrictions on bail proceedings. Though the principle of an open trial is important and she understood the media’s responsibility in reporting, Toh rejected the application, stressing that she has the responsibility to protect the integrity of future trials and the interests of the defendants and the prosecution.

The 47 pro-democracy advocates were accused of “conspiring to subvert the state” for participating in or organizing an unofficial primary election for the now-postponed Legislative Council election last summer. 32 out of 47 were denied bail and 22 appealed against the decision. Their appeal hearing will take place on Friday, while the trial is scheduled at the end of May.

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