Hong Kong Alliance subversion verdict set for August 21
On.cc · 3 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong’s judiciary has fixed 10am next Friday, August 21, at West Kowloon Court for judgment in the subversion case involving the disbanded Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, former chairman Lee Cheuk-yan and former vice-chairwoman Chow Hang-tung. The hearing is expected to last about one hour, after a 22-day trial that concluded on May 19, 2026; former vice-chairman Albert Ho had pleaded guilty before trial, while the Alliance, Lee and Chow contested the charge.
Key Points
- Judiciary records show National Security Law-designated judges Alex Lee Wan-tang, Johnny Chan Jong-herng and Anthea Pang Po-kam will deliver the ruling at West Kowloon Court.
- The four defendants are the Hong Kong Alliance, Lee Cheuk-yan, Albert Ho and Chow Hang-tung in that order on the indictment.
- They were charged over conduct in Hong Kong between July 1, 2020 and September 8, 2021, under one count of inciting subversion of state power.
- The prosecution alleged the defendants sought to incite others to organise, plan, implement or participate in acts aimed at ending Chinese Communist Party leadership by unlawful means.
- During closing submissions, prosecutors argued the defendants’ conduct during commemorative activities went beyond protected human rights, while the defence said “ending one-party rule” did not target the Communist Party and the Alliance had never advocated illegal means in 30 years
Why It Matters
The ruling will determine the criminal liability of the remaining contesting defendants after one co-accused admitted the offence, bringing a closely watched National Security Law trial to a decisive stage. For Hong Kong readers, the judgment is also likely to clarify how the court interprets the Alliance’s long-standing slogans and activities under the subversion offence.