Tiananmen vigil leaders convicted under security law
HKFP · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Two former leaders of the now-defunct Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China were convicted on August 21 of incitement to subversion, alongside the organisation they once led. The ruling marked a major development in a case tied to Hong Kong’s long-running June 4 vigil tradition, while another national security case involving 47 activists also moved forward with 11 defendants granted leave to appeal.
Key Points
- National security judges convicted Chow Hang-tung and Lee Cheuk-yan on August 21, and also found the dissolved Hong Kong Alliance guilty.
- Chow and Lee have been in custody since September 2021 and each now faces a possible prison term of up to 10 years.
- Former lawmaker Albert Ho pleaded guilty when the trial opened in January and may receive a lighter penalty than the other defendants.
- For more than 30 years, the Alliance organised annual Victoria Park vigils mourning victims of the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown and calling for democratisation in China.
- During a mitigation hearing in late August, Chow said the conviction meant the court was effectively declaring that pursuing democracy is a crime.
Why It Matters
The convictions deepen the legal consequences surrounding one of Hong Kong’s most recognisable civil society groups and a once-annual public commemoration in Victoria Park. The separate appeal development in the 47 activists’ case shows that major national security proceedings remain active on multiple fronts.