Hong Kong Tiananmen vigil activists jailed for up to 7 years, 3 months for inciting subversion, group fined HK$1.5 million
Three activists who once organised annual vigils to mark the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown crackdown have been sentenced to up to seven years and three months in prison. Appearing before a panel of designated judges at the West Kowloon Law Courts Building on Friday, Chow Hang-tung, Lee Cheuk-yan, and Albert Ho were handed the jail terms […]
Three activists who once organized annual vigils to commemorate the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown have been sentenced to a total of up to seven years and three months in prison. Chow Hang-tung received a seven-year sentence, Lee Cheuk-yan received seven years and three months, and Albert Ho received five years and two months. They were found guilty of inciting subversion under the Beijing-imposed national security law.
The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, the group these activists formerly led, has been fined HK$1.5 million, to be paid within three months. The Alliance disbanded in September 2021 after holding mass candlelit vigils for the Tiananmen victims until the event was banned in 2020.
The court found the offense to be of a serious nature despite the lack of violence or threat of violence, and the defendants not proposing specific means of implementation or timetable to end one-party rule in mainland China. The judges cited the turbulent social atmosphere at the time and the defendants' mobilizing power and influence in Hong Kong, with their activities having a citywide reach. The incitement of subversion offense carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
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.
