Hong Kong convicts activists in national security trial
The two pro-democracy Tiananmen activists were found guilty of inciting subversion. The high profile case has been widely criticized for highlighting the deterioration of freedom of expression.
A Hong Kong court convicted two pro-democracy activists on Thursday under Beijing's national security law, accusing them of incitement to subversion. Lee Cheuk-yan, 69, and Chow Hang-tung, 41, organized candlelight vigils to commemorate the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown, which was carried out by Chinese troops. Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the 2021 charges and face a potential 10-year prison sentence.
The pair are alleged to have incited others to engage in unlawful activities aimed at subverting state power. Prosecutors argued that the activists endangered national security by promoting human rights in Tiananmen Square. Public remembrance of the Tiananmen crackdown has been prohibited since the 2020 implementation of Hong Kong's national security law, which followed widespread anti-government protests in 2019.
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