Two individuals who previously organized Hong Kong’s annual vigil to commemorate the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown have been found guilty in a national security case stemming from a law imposed by China. Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung, former leaders of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, were convicted for inciting subversion under the national security law. Both had denied the charges and now face a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years, along with the alliance itself.
The judges determined that the alliance’s advocacy to “end one-party dictatorship” was not merely a call for the ruling Communist Party to revert to a multiparty system as per the constitution but an attempt to destabilize its leadership position. They interpreted the term “end” as implying “overthrow” and “undermine.”
The verdict signifies the ongoing crackdown on Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement, which has significantly waned due to actions taken by local and Chinese authorities. The candlelight vigil organized by the alliance, a tradition spanning three decades and drawing tens of thousands annually to mourn Tiananmen Square victims, was banned in 2020 amidst the pandemic and prior to the imposition of the security law.
Lee and Chow, upon exiting the courtroom, interacted with supporters and are awaiting sentencing. The trial is viewed as emblematic of the diminishing freedom of expression in the territory since its handover to China in 1997. Legal experts highlighted the use of charges like inciting subversion to suppress dissent, drawing parallels with mainland China’s legal practices targeting activists and intellectuals.
The trial focused on the alleged incitement to overthrow China’s ruling party, with prosecutors emphasizing the alliance’s calls to end single-party rule as seditious. Lee and Chow defended their stance as advocating for democratic principles and criticized the judicial process for its suppression of dissenting voices.
The trial concluded swiftly after 24 days, with Lee, Chow, and another defendant, Albert Ho, facing potential sentencing. Supporters expressed skepticism towards the allegations and gathered outside the court during the proceedings. The alliance’s fate reflects broader political shifts in Hong Kong, with the imposition of the security law leading to the dissolution of civil society groups and the silencing of dissenting voices.