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Hong Kong Court Sentences Three Activists to Prison for Organizing 1989 Tiananmen Square Vigil

A Hong Kong court sentenced three activists who organized annual vigils for the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown to prison terms of approximately 5 to 7 years. Chow Hang-tung received a 7 years and 3 months sentence, Lee Cheuk-yan received 7 years, and Albert Ho received 5 years and 2 months. The trio were convicted of inciting subversion under the national security law for their group's long-term demand to "end one-party dictatorship." Judges ruled that while the defendants did not use violence or propose a specific timetable to overthrow the ruling party, their actions were serious during a turbulent social atmosphere. The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, the group led by the three activists, was also fined HK$1.5 million. The annual vigil, which once drew tens of thousands of people to Victoria Park, was the only large-scale public commemoration of the 1989 crackdown in China. Authorities banned the vigil in 2020. Hong Kong leader John Lee stated that the law does not allow individuals to use human rights and democracy as a pretext to openly harm their own country and compatriots.

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