The High Court turned down Cheung’s bail application after Judge D’Almada Remedios said she was not satisfied there were sufficient grounds to believe that Cheung would not continue to commit acts endangering national security if bail were granted.

The 59-year-old Cheung is among six senior executives of Next Digital or Apple Daily who were accused of conspiring with the media company’s founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying to request foreign powers to impose sanctions on Hong Kong and China.

Three companies tied to the pro-democracy tabloid have also been charged.

The seven are set to appear in court again on December 28.