Hong Kong’s Tiananmen Activists Convicted in National Security Trial
BBC News
Two Hong Kong Activists Found Guilty
Two Hong Kong activists, Lee Cheuk-yan (69) and Chow Hang-tung (41), have been found guilty of inciting others to subvert state power under the city’s controversial national security law. They face up to 10 years in jail.
A third defendant, Albert Ho (74), had pleaded guilty in January.
According to a court summary, Lee and Chow "incited other persons to organise, plan, commit or participate in acts by unlawful means with a view to subverting the state power." Chow had argued in court that the law itself was on trial.
Historical Context
Hong Kong used to be a unique place within Chinese territory where people could gather to commemorate the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown on pro-democracy protesters. Authorities banned these gatherings in 2020, citing COVID-19 policies, and they have not resumed. This coincided with the implementation of the national security law in Hong Kong that year, which criminalizes a wider range of dissenting acts.
Trial and Verdict
In the courtroom, Chow smiled as the verdict was read out, while Lee showed little emotion, making a heart gesture and folding his hands in gratitude to those in the gallery.
Both Lee, a lawmaker, and Chow, a lawyer, were leaders of the now-defunct Hong Kong Alliance (HKA), which supported students during the 1989 protests. The HKA was described by Chinese authorities as a "toxic tumor."
International Response
Amnesty International has criticized the case, stating that it "relies on vague, overly broad, and arbitrary definitions of ‘subversion’" and that Chow and Lee are "prisoners of conscience."
Elaine Pearson from Human Rights Watch noted that the convictions highlight "how public displays of mourning have become a crime in Hong Kong."
Previous Arrest and Release
In a separate case, Chow was arrested in June 2021 for "inciting" the public to participate in that year’s vigil, later found guilty, but the conviction was overturned in 2022 by Hong Kong’s top court.
