Explainer: Hong Kong’s national security crackdown – month 75

In September 2026, Hong Kong witnessed the sentencing of three activists who had organized annual vigils for the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown, and the conviction of two young men with autism. The three activists, Chow Hang-tung, Lee Cheuk-yan, and Albert Ho, were sentenced to up to seven years and three months in prison for inciting subversion under the Beijing-imposed national security law.

Lee received the longest sentence of seven years, followed by Chow with seven years and three months, and Ho with five years and two months. The activists' families and supporters denounced the sentences as "totally unjust" and vowed to appeal. The Alliance, a group associated with the activists, was also convicted and fined HK$1.5 million for its involvement in the vigils.

Joshua Wong, a prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy campaigner, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to collude with foreign forces on September 2. Wong faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment for allegedly conspiring with self-exiled activist Nathan Law and others in 2020 to request foreign sanctions and blockades against Hong Kong and mainland China.

The offense carries a maximum penalty of life behind bars. Authorities have reportedly taken action against a state-backed newspaper for flagging a years-old Netflix documentary about Wong, which it deemed to contain "incitement." The Security Bureau stated that all videos broadcast in Hong Kong must comply with local laws, including the city's two security laws.

Additionally, US lawmakers held a hearing on jailed pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai and were accused of allegedly colluding with "anti-China and destabilising elements" to demand his release ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to the US capital between September 23-25.