Conviction of Tiananmen Vigil Leaders
Lee Cheuk-yan, 69, and Chow Hang-tung, 41, were found guilty of inciting subversion under Hong Kong’s national security law, after leading annual vigils that commemorated the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown.
Both faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison; sentencing is slated for a later date. Meanwhile, former lawmaker Albert Ho, 74, who pleaded guilty in January, joins the trio of defendants facing legal consequences for their activism.
Prosecutors argued that the activists’ claims to defend human rights actually threatened national security. Chow, who represented herself, noted that the law itself was under scrutiny during the proceedings.
Hong Kong previously allowed public gatherings to remember the deadly 1989 crackdown, but such events were banned in 2020 under Covid restrictions. That same year, the national security law was enacted, extending prohibitions on dissentous acts.
Lee and Chow had led the Hong Kong Alliance (HKA), formed in May 1989 to support pro‑democracy student rallies. Years later, the group called for accountability for the Beijing crackdown and broader democratic reforms. HKA leaders were charged in 2021 and have remained in custody since.
Amnesty International condemned the case for relying on vague and overly broad definitions of 'subversion', emphasizing the need for clearer legal standards.
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A prison van appeared outside West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts on the day the verdict was announced, underscoring the seriousness of the judiciary’s decision.
