Explainer: Hong Kong’s national security crackdown – month 74

In August, two prominent activists, Chow Hang-tung and Lee Cheuk-yan, were found guilty of inciting subversion under a Beijing-imposed national security law in Hong Kong. Both activists, former leaders of the dissolved Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, were convicted along with their dissolved organization.

The pair, who have been incarcerated since September 2021, now face potential prison sentences of up to a decade. Chow Hang-tung expressed her disappointment in the court's decision, stating that the conviction effectively equated pursuing democracy with a criminal act. Meanwhile, another group of 47 activists involved in a major national security case won permission to appeal their convictions to the city's highest court.

The Hong Kong 47 were jailed on conspiracy charges for subversion, and their appeal could potentially overturn their sentences. The conviction of these high-profile activists has sparked outrage among pro-democracy supporters and human rights organizations, who warn of a growing erosion of freedoms in Hong Kong.