Hong Kong’s Tiananmen activists sentenced to up to seven years in prison

Three Hong Kong activists who regularly organized commemorative vigils for the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from five to seven years. Lee Cheuk-yan, 69, Chow Hang-tung, 41, and Albert Ho, 74, were convicted under Hong Kong's controversial national security law. Ho pleaded guilty in January, while Lee and Chow maintained their innocence.

The national security law, introduced in 2020, criminalizes a broader range of dissenting activities and has been criticized for undermining Hong Kong's autonomy and fostering a climate of fear. The activists were charged in 2021 and face up to 10 years in prison. At the sentencing, Lee and Chow smiled at the public gallery, while Ho remained serious.

Lee appeared to pray as he was led out, and Chow blew a kiss to the audience. Lee's wife, Elizabeth Tang, expressed disappointment and plans to appeal the sentence. Chow's mother advised the crowd not to feel guilty and to continue fighting for democracy. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch condemned the sentences, calling them unjust and highlighting the government's fear of memory and people.

The Hong Kong Alliance, the group the activists led, was disbanded in 2020 after authorities banned the yearly vigils due to the Covid-19 pandemic, though they never resumed.