Two individuals previously involved in Hong Kong’s annual vigil commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown have been found guilty in a national security case initiated under a law imposed by China. The law has significantly impacted the city’s once-thriving 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 of inciting subversion under the national security law. Despite pleading not guilty, they now face a potential 10-year prison sentence. The alliance itself was also held accountable for the charges.
According to the three judges overseeing the case, the alliance’s advocacy to “end one-party dictatorship” was deemed not as a call for the ruling Communist Party to revert to a multi-party system but rather to eliminate its leadership position. The judges interpreted the term “end” in the context of “overthrowing” and “undermining.”
The verdict marks another blow to Hong Kong’s dwindling pro-democracy movement, which has been systematically dismantled by local and Chinese authorities. For 30 years, the alliance’s candlelight vigil was a significant public event drawing thousands annually to mourn the victims of the Tiananmen Square crackdown in China. The vigil was prohibited in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic and shortly before the implementation of the security law by Beijing.
Lee and Chow, who smiled and waved to onlookers as they exited the courtroom, are awaiting sentencing. Observers view their trial as emblematic of the diminishing freedom of expression in the former British colony, which reverted to Chinese rule in 1997.
During the trial, prosecutors contended that the case was not politically motivated, focusing instead on the alliance’s alleged incitement to overthrow the Communist Party’s leadership through unlawful means. On the other hand, Lee and Chow argued that their calls were centered on advancing democracy and questioning authoritarian rule, not specifically targeting the party’s governance.
In response to the conviction, Lee’s wife expressed disappointment and disagreement with the outcome, emphasizing Lee’s innocence. Supporters of the defendants gathered outside the court, expressing doubts about the allegations and highlighting concerns about the city’s legal landscape.
The 2020 security law imposed by Beijing has led to a series of political changes in Hong Kong, including the incarceration of prominent activists and the disbandment of various civil society organizations, including the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China.