Hong Kong court finds Tiananmen activists guilty of subversion charge

A Hong Kong court has convicted two activists for their role in organizing annual vigils commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, finding them guilty of "incitement to subversion," according to a press summary. Lee Cheuk-yan, 69, and Chow Hang-tung, 41, are accused of inciting others to "organise, plan, commit or participate in acts by unlawful means with a view to subverting the state power."

The three-judge panel ruled that their actions constituted "overthrowing or undermining the basic system... established by the Constitution of China." Both face up to 10 years in prison, with sentencing to come later. The activists, former leaders of the Hong Kong Alliance, have been imprisoned since being charged in 2021 under Beijing's national security law.

Public remembrance of the Tiananmen event has been banned in Hong Kong since 2020 following large-scale pro-democracy protests. The defendants' remarks, the prosecutors argued, were not mere personal opinions but intended to provoke unlawful actions. A third defendant, Albert Ho, has already pleaded guilty and will likely receive a reduced sentence.