Two individuals who played key roles in organizing Hong Kong’s annual vigil commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown have been found guilty in a national security case, marking another blow to the city’s pro-democracy movement. Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung, former leaders of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, were convicted of inciting subversion under the national security law imposed by China. Both defendants denied the charges and could face up to 10 years in prison. The alliance itself was also deemed guilty in the case.
The verdict is part of a series of legal actions targeting Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement, which has been significantly weakened by authorities in Hong Kong and China. The annual candlelight vigil organized by the alliance for 30 years was a prominent public event drawing large crowds to mourn the victims of the Tiananmen Square crackdown. However, the event was banned in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, shortly before the enforcement of the security law to suppress the 2019 protests.
Critics view the trial of Lee and Chow as a sign of diminishing freedom of expression in Hong Kong since its handover to China in 1997. The judges have reserved the reasons for the conviction, with the full judgment expected to be released online later. Legal expert Eric Lai noted that the charge of inciting subversion has been commonly used in mainland China to target human rights activists and intellectuals.
During the trial, prosecutors argued that the case was not politically motivated and focused on the alliance’s alleged call to incite the overthrow of China’s ruling Communist Party. Lee countered this by stating that the alliance’s goal was to promote democracy and allow the people to choose their leadership. Chow, representing herself in court, criticized the legal standards applied in the case.
Supporters of Lee and Chow gathered outside the court during the proceedings, expressing skepticism about the allegations. The crackdown in Tiananmen Square in 1989, which led to the deaths of hundreds or possibly thousands of people, remains a significant event in China’s history, shaping its political trajectory. Following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, the former vigil site in Hong Kong was repurposed for a carnival organized by pro-Beijing groups.
The 2020 security law imposed by Beijing was justified as necessary for maintaining stability in Hong Kong, leading to the imprisonment of prominent activists and the dissolution of numerous civil society organizations, including the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China.