Hong Kong Alliance Subversion Case Sentencing Set Friday
AM730 · 3 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago6 MIN
Summary
Sentencing in the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China case has been fixed for 10am on Friday, September 11, at West Kowloon Court, with the hearing expected to last about an hour. The dissolved alliance, former chairman Lee Cheuk-yan (李卓人), former vice-chairman Albert Ho Chun-yan (何俊仁) and Chow Hang-tung (鄒幸彤) are before a three-judge panel designated under the Hong Kong National Security Law, after Ho pleaded guilty before trial and the other defendants were convicted last month.
Key Points
- Judiciary records show designated judges Alex Lee Wan-tang, Johnny Chan Jong-herng and Anthea Pang Po-kam will sentence the case on Friday morning at West Kowloon Court.
- The four defendants are the dissolved Hong Kong Alliance, Lee Cheuk-yan, Albert Ho and Chow Hang-tung in case HCCC155/2022.
- They were charged over conduct in Hong Kong between July 1, 2020 and September 8, 2021, alleging incitement of others to subvert state power.
- Ho admitted the charge before trial, while the alliance, Lee and Chow denied it and were convicted after trial in August.
- Under Article 23 of the Hong Kong National Security Law, the offence carries up to 10 years' imprisonment if deemed serious, or up to five years if considered minor.
- Defense mitigation argued the alliance had long promoted its message through peaceful, non-violent means and that there was no evidence anyone had carried out concrete subversive acts because of its advocacy. Counsel for Lee and Ho also argued the case should be treated as a less serious instance, or at the lowest end even if the court found it serious. Chow, who represented herself, told the court she did not believe she was guilty, said none of the defendants should spend even a day in prison, and argued the ruling meant the pursuit of democracy had been criminalised. On the alliance itself, the court said only a fine could be imposed as a matter of law, and the alliance's representative said it had the ability to pay a fine
Why It Matters
Friday's hearing will determine the penalties in one of Hong Kong's most closely watched national security prosecutions involving a dissolved political group and three of its former leaders. The sentencing outcome will also show how the court applies the distinction between “serious” and “minor” cases under the incitement-to-subvert provision argued extensively at mitigation.