National security conviction shows ‘pursuing democracy is a crime,’ Tiananmen vigil activist says in mitigation hearing
An activist who once organised annual vigils to commemorate the Tiananmen crackdown has said that a Hong Kong court’s decision to convict her under national security legislation amounts to saying that “pursuing democracy is a crime.” Chow Hang-tung was convicted last week, alongside Lee Cheuk-yan and Albert Ho, of inciting subversion under a Beijing-imposed national […]
Chow Hang-tung, a former leader of a now-disbanded Hong Kong rights group, has been convicted under Hong Kong's new national security law alongside two others. Chow, a barrister representing herself, called the ruling "unpalatable" as it equated her pursuit of democracy with a crime. She argued that any belief in ending one-party rule in mainland China inherently goes against the Constitution, making it unlawful.
The court's judges, however, gave Chow the opportunity to present her mitigating factors before sentencing. Barrister Erik Shum, representing Chow and her co-defendants, requested a lenient sentence, citing the lack of premeditation and a lack of a specific plan to undermine Hong Kong's governance. The activists are currently in detention, with Chow and Lee facing almost four years, and Ho, three years and six months.
Written by urgent.news from Hong Kong Free Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
