Verdict set for next Friday in alliance subversion case
Thestandard · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
West Kowloon Court is scheduled to deliver its verdict at 10am next Friday in the subversion case involving the disbanded Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China and three of its former leaders.
The decision will be handed down by National Security Law designated judges Alex Lee Wan-tang, Johnny Chan Jong-herng, and Anna Lai Yuen-kee, with the hearing expected to last about one hour.
The closely watched case concluded a 22-day trial in May and focuses on allegations of inciting subversion of state power.
Key Points
- The defendants are the disbanded alliance, former chairman Lee Cheuk-yan, and former vice-chairpersons Albert Ho Chun-yan and Tonyee Chow Hang-tung.
- Prosecutors allege they incited others between July 1, 2020, and September 8, 2021, to organize or participate in illegal means.
- The alleged illegal means included advocating an end to the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, which prosecutors said violates the national constitution.
- Albert Ho Chun-yan pleaded guilty before trial, while Lee Cheuk-yan and Tonyee Chow Hang-tung contested the charges throughout proceedings.
- The defense challenged the prosecution's reading of the alliance's five-point operational guidelines and disputed whether its advocacy amounted to overthrowing the central government.
Why It Matters
The ruling will determine how the court interprets political advocacy by a now-disbanded civic group under the national security framework.
It is also likely to be closely watched because it follows a lengthy trial and involves prominent former leaders of a once high-profile Hong Kong organization.