Two former organizers of Hong Kong’s annual vigil commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown have been found guilty in a national security case under a law imposed by China. Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung, previous leaders of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, were convicted of inciting subversion in 2021. Both defendants, along with the alliance, face a potential maximum prison sentence of 10 years.
The judges concluded that the alliance’s advocacy to “end one-party dictatorship” aimed not to restore a multi-party system as per the constitution but to eliminate the Communist Party’s leadership role. They interpreted the term “end” in the context as meaning “overthrow” and “undermine.”
The verdict highlighted that the defendants persisted in their stance post the law’s implementation, disregarding its conflict with the constitution, which mandates the party’s leadership as a core element of socialism with Chinese characteristics. This action was deemed as falling under “other unlawful means” according to the security law.
The conviction is part of a series of legal actions against Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement, which has significantly weakened due to government crackdowns. The traditional candlelight vigil organized by the alliance, which used to attract thousands annually to mourn Tiananmen Square victims, was banned in 2020 amid the pandemic and the subsequent enforcement of the security law.
Lee and Chow, who smiled at the audience before exiting the courtroom, are set to be sentenced later. Observers view their trial as emblematic of the diminishing freedom of expression in Hong Kong since its handover to China in 1997.
The trial, originally projected to last 75 days, concluded in just 24 days. The defendants may seek reduced sentences, with another co-defendant already pleading guilty. Despite the guilty verdict, supporters of the defendants express skepticism towards the allegations and maintain their innocence.
The crackdown on the alliance and its leaders is part of broader political changes in Hong Kong, with multiple activists and organizations targeted under the national security law. The erosion of civil liberties and the suppression of dissent continue to raise concerns within and outside Hong Kong.