A Hong Kong court sentenced three pro-democracy activists to prison terms of five to seven years and three months on September 11, after convicting them of inciting subversion under the National Security Law. The defendants—Lee Cheuk-yan (7 years), Chow Hang-tung (7 years and 3 months), and Albert Ho (5 years and 2 months)—were leaders of the now-disbanded Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, which organized annual vigils commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown.
The sentencing follows their 2021 arrests and prolonged detention, with all three pleading not guilty. The alliance was also fined HK$1.5 million in the same case. The activists’ legal team has indicated plans to appeal the verdicts.
Core facts of the case
- Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung received 7 years and 7 years and 3 months, respectively, after being found guilty of inciting subversion for their roles in organizing vigils and advocating for an end to one-party dictatorship in China.
- Albert Ho, who pleaded guilty before the trial, received a reduced sentence of 5 years and 2 months.
Legal rationale and charges
The court ruled that the alliance’s longstanding call to “end one-party dictatorship” constituted unlawful incitement to overthrow China’s ruling Communist Party. Judges also cited the activists’ comparison of Beijing’s 1989 crackdown to the suppression of 2019 anti-government protests in Hong Kong as evidence of inciting public hatred toward the party.
Background: The end of Hong Kong’s Tiananmen vigils
For three decades, the alliance organized annual candlelight vigils in Victoria Park, drawing tens of thousands of participants. These vigils were the only large-scale public commemoration of the Tiananmen crackdown on Chinese soil, as such discussions are heavily censored in mainland China. The vigils were banned in 2020 following the implementation of the National Security Law, which criminalized acts deemed subversive or secessionist.
Reactions to the sentencing
- Lee Cheuk-yan’s wife, Elizabeth Tang, called the ruling a “sad day” and stated her husband was prepared for the outcome. She emphasized that the sentence would shock and anger many, noting that millions had supported the vigils over the years.
- Chow Hang-tung’s mother, Medina Chow, urged supporters not to lose heart, stating, “Do not feel guilty” for the activists’ actions.
- The activists’ legal teams have signaled plans to appeal the convictions and sentences, arguing that the rulings criminalize peaceful political expression.
Broader implications for Hong Kong’s freedoms
The case is widely viewed as a barometer of Hong Kong’s shrinking civil liberties under the National Security Law. Since its enactment in 2020, authorities have dissolved civil society groups, prosecuted critical media outlets, and imprisoned prominent activists, including leaders of the 2019 pro-democracy protests.
Government stance
Beijing has defended the National Security Law as necessary to maintain stability, while critics argue it has stifled dissent and eroded Hong Kong’s autonomy as guaranteed under the “one country, two systems” framework. The United Nations and Western governments, including the United States, have previously condemned such prosecutions as violations of human rights and freedoms of expression and assembly.