Two former organizers of the annual vigil in Hong Kong commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown have been found guilty in a national security case under China’s imposed law. This law has significantly impacted the city’s once vibrant 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 in 2021 for inciting subversion under the national security law. Both individuals, along with the alliance, face a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.
The judges concluded that the alliance’s advocacy to “end one-party dictatorship” was not merely a call for the ruling Communist Party to return to a multiparty system, but rather aimed at undermining its leadership status. This interpretation deemed their actions as unlawful under the security law.
The verdict is part of a series of legal actions against Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement, which has been systematically suppressed by authorities in Hong Kong and mainland China.
For 30 years, the candlelight vigil organized by the alliance served as a significant public event honoring the victims of the Tiananmen Square incident in China. However, the vigil was prohibited in 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and prior to the enforcement of the security law in response to the 2019 anti-government protests.
Lee and Chow displayed resilience as they smiled and waved to onlookers before leaving the courtroom. Their sentencing is pending, and they are expected to seek reduced penalties in the coming week. Observers view this trial as emblematic of the dwindling freedom of expression in Hong Kong since its handover to Chinese control in 1997.
The trial, which was initially projected to last 75 days, concluded sooner than anticipated after closing statements were made on the 24th day. Notably, Albert Ho, another defendant in the case, had entered a guilty plea at the trial’s commencement.
A senior fellow at the Georgetown Center for Asian Law expressed concerns over the use of the charge of inciting subversion to target individuals advocating for human rights and democracy. Lee and Chow were accused of attempting to overthrow the ruling party of China, although they argued that their intentions were to promote democracy rather than challenge the party’s leadership directly.
Following the conviction, Lee’s wife expressed disappointment and disbelief, emphasizing her husband’s innocence. The public response to the trial remains divided, with supporters questioning the validity of the allegations and the implications for civil liberties in the city.
The crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong has led to the dissolution of numerous civil society groups and the imprisonment of prominent activists, signaling a significant shift in the city’s political landscape.
