Two Hong Kong activists who coordinated annual vigils commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown have been found guilty of “inciting subversion” under Hong Kong’s national security law. Lee Cheuk-yan, 69, and Chow Hang-tung, 41, were convicted in a high-profile trial that lasted 24 days, beginning in January. Each faces a potential 10-year prison sentence, though sentencing will occur later. A third defendant, former lawmaker Albert Ho, 74, had already pleaded guilty in January. The verdict comes amid heightened scrutiny of Hong Kong’s legal system following the imposition of the national security law in 2020. The law, introduced by Beijing after widespread pro-democracy protests in 2019, criminalizes a wide array of dissenting activities, including advocating for independence or challenging government authority. The charges against Lee and Chow centered on their role in organizing the annual vigils, which have historically marked the anniversary of the 1989 crackdown. These vigils, once held in Hong Kong, symbolized a rare space for open discussion of sensitive historical events. Since 2020, such gatherings have effectively been prohibited, with authorities citing pandemic-related restrictions as justification. Lee and Chow were leaders of the Hong Kong Alliance, a group that has long advocated for democratic reforms and accountability for past actions by the Chinese government. Founded in May 1989, the alliance supported student-led pro-democracy demonstrations that were violently suppressed in Beijing. The crackdown resulted in an estimated hundreds to thousands of deaths, though exact figures remain disputed. Over the subsequent decades, the Hong Kong Alliance continued to call for acknowledgment of the incident, release of political prisoners, and greater democratic freedoms. Its leaders were charged in 2021 and remained in custody until this recent trial. During the trial, Chow, representing herself, stated that the law itself was on trial. She expressed concerns that the national security law was being used to suppress legitimate forms of protest and historical remembrance. In a message from prison, Chow addressed the UK prime minister, Andy Burnham, warning that Beijing sought to erase parts of Hong Kong’s history. She criticized Britain for not taking stronger action against what she described as a “totalitarian and aggressive” China. The British government responded by condemning the verdict, stating that peaceful remembrance should not be considered a crime. French and German foreign ministries also issued statements expressing deep regret over Chow’s conviction. Both nations emphasized that peaceful advocacy for human rights does not constitute a crime. Chow had previously received the Franco-German prize for human rights in 2023, underscoring international recognition of her activism. Meanwhile, the UK’s Indo-Pacific minister, Rosie Winterton, reiterated calls for the repeal of the national security law, arguing that it violates the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, which guaranteed certain rights and freedoms in Hong Kong. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have both criticized the case, highlighting the vague and expansive definition of “subversion” used by prosecutors. According to Amnesty, the charges rely on overly broad interpretations that can be applied arbitrarily. Human Rights Watch noted that the convictions demonstrate how public expressions of grief and remembrance have increasingly been criminalized in Hong Kong. Despite earlier rulings that partially overturned previous convictions against Chow, the current verdict marks another escalation in the suppression of dissent. As the trial concludes, the focus shifts to the upcoming sentencing. The broader implications of the case extend beyond individual convictions, raising questions about the future of civil liberties in Hong Kong. With the national security law continuing to shape legal discourse, the outcome of this case may serve as a precedent for similar prosecutions. For now, the immediate concern remains the fate of Lee and Chow, whose activism has drawn both local and international attention.
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