Hong Kong: Organiser of vigil found guilty

Hong Kong’s top court has convicted two organizers of annual vigils commemorating the 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Beijing, marking another escalation in the city's tightening control over dissent. The 41-year-old Chow Hang-tung and the 69-year-old Lee Cheuk-yan were found guilty of “inciting subversion” under Hong Kong’s national security law. The verdict was delivered by the city’s highest court, which ruled that the activists had encouraged others to engage in illegal activities aimed at undermining state authority. Their actions, according to the ruling, sought to end the “one-party dictatorship,” thereby violating China’s constitution. The court did not immediately specify the exact prison term, though both defendants face up to ten years of incarceration. During the trial, Chow and Lee denied the charges, arguing that their call for a “democratic change” did not exclude Communist Party leadership. They maintained that their efforts were nonviolent and aimed at peaceful reform rather than destabilizing the government. A third defendant, the 74-year-old former legislator Albert Ho, pleaded guilty earlier this year, likely leading to a reduced sentence. The conviction comes amid heightened political tensions in Hong Kong, where public gatherings have been increasingly restricted since the imposition of the National Security Law in 2020. That legislation, introduced by the Chinese central government, criminalizes acts deemed threats to national security, including advocating for democracy or criticizing the government. The vigil, held annually in Victoria Park, once drew thousands of participants, serving as one of the few legal avenues for Hong Kong residents to publicly mourn the victims of the June 4, 1989, crackdown. Since the new law, such demonstrations have become virtually impossible. Germany and France jointly condemned the ruling, expressing deep concern over the implications for human rights and democratic freedoms in Hong Kong. In a shared statement, the governments of Berlin and Paris called for the immediate release of Chow, who was awarded the German-French Prize for Human Rights and Rule of Law in 2023. The European Union also urged Hong Kong authorities to preserve space for independent civil society and ensure freedom of expression and assembly. Human Rights Watch’s Asia director, Elaine Pearson, described the verdict as evidence of how “public expressions of mourning in Hong Kong have turned into a crime.” She noted that the activists had exposed the Chinese government’s fear of being reminded of its past actions, framing remembrance as a threat to national security. Similarly, Amnesty International criticized the judgment as part of a broader campaign to erase the legacy of Tiananmen-era activists, calling it a “dark milestone” in the suppression of dissent. Academic experts have echoed these concerns. Urania Chiu of Oxford Brookes University told AFP that the ruling sends a chilling message to Hong Kong’s civil society, signaling that even peaceful criticism of the state is no longer tolerated. The decision reflects a broader pattern of increasing repression against pro-democracy voices, with many prominent figures facing prosecution or forced disappearance since the implementation of the security law. The case also highlights the growing international scrutiny of Hong Kong’s judicial system, particularly regarding its independence and adherence to due process. While the Chinese government maintains that the law is necessary to safeguard stability, critics argue that it has been used to silence opposition and suppress free speech. The convictions of Chow and Lee underscore the risks faced by activists who challenge the status quo, reinforcing fears that Hong Kong’s autonomy is steadily eroding under Beijing’s influence.