Two individuals who previously organized Hong Kong’s annual vigil in honor of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown have been found guilty in a national security case brought under a law imposed by China. Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung, former leaders of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, were convicted of inciting subversion under the national security law introduced in 2021. They face up to 10 years in prison. The judges determined that the alliance’s advocacy to “end one-party dictatorship” aimed to undermine the Communist Party’s leadership under the constitution, rather than advocate for a return to multiparty cooperation as stated in the law.
The verdict is part of a series of recent legal actions targeting Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement, which has significantly diminished due to crackdowns by local and Chinese authorities. For three decades, the alliance’s candlelight vigil was a prominent event that gathered tens of thousands each year to commemorate the Tiananmen Square victims in China. The event was banned in 2020, coinciding with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent enforcement of the security law to suppress the 2019 protests.
Observers note that the trial of Lee and Chow reflects the diminishing freedom of expression in Hong Kong since its handover to China in 1997. The defendants, who are expected to be sentenced later, will seek leniency in the coming week. Legal experts highlight that the charge of inciting subversion is commonly used in mainland China to target human rights advocates and intellectuals critical of the government.
During the trial, Lee and Chow defended their actions, stating that their calls were not about overthrowing the party but advocating for democratic principles and limiting dictatorship. The legal proceedings, which wrapped up sooner than anticipated, also saw another defendant, Albert Ho, pleading guilty. Lee’s wife expressed disappointment with the verdict and maintained her husband’s innocence, suggesting a potential appeal in the future.
The crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong has led to the dissolution of several civil society groups, including the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, amid Beijing’s justification of the security law as necessary for the city’s stability. The convictions of Lee and Chow further underscore the challenges faced by activists in the region, with implications for freedom of expression and political dissent.