Hong Kong rebukes criticism over Tiananmen vigil convictions
HKFP · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
The Hong Kong government and the Legislative Council secretariat have denounced what they called “external forces” for criticising the convictions of two organisers of the city’s annual Tiananmen vigils. Chow Hang-tung and Lee Cheuk-yan were found guilty on Friday of inciting subversion, alongside the now-defunct Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China. The official response came after foreign governments, activists and overseas human rights groups voiced concern over what they described as shrinking freedoms in Hong Kong. Authorities said the defendants persisted with the alliance’s resistance line even after Beijing imposed the national security law on Hong Kong.
Key Points
- In a Saturday statement, the Hong Kong government said it strongly opposed and condemned what it called baseless slanders by western countries, anti-China media, organisations and politicians.
- Chow Hang-tung and Lee Cheuk-yan were convicted on Friday, while former lawmaker Albert Ho had already pleaded guilty when the trial opened in January.
- Prosecutors argued the alliance’s slogan calling to “end one-party rule” breached China’s constitution after a 2018 amendment elevated Communist Party leadership as fundamental.
- The government echoed the court’s reasoning, saying the defendants refused to retreat after the national security law took effect and stayed committed to the alliance’s resistance line.
- The Legislative Council secretariat issued a similarly worded statement on Saturday, also condemning what it described as smearing and slanderous remarks by external forces.
Why It Matters
The case goes beyond the fate of three long-time activists because it tests how political speech once common in Hong Kong is now treated under the national security framework. For Hong Kong readers, the official rebuttal to overseas criticism also shows how the government and legislature are presenting a united front in defending court outcomes tied to national security.