{
  "id": 3924047,
  "title": "Goal of Tiananmen vigil group an ‘empty slogan’, not actual plan: defence lawyer",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/goal-of-tiananmen-vigil-group-an-empty-slogan-not-actual-plan-defence",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-28T08:39:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post - Hong Kong",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post-hong-kong",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3365585/goal-tiananmen-vigil-group-empty-slogan-not-actual-plan-defence-lawyer"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The disbanded Hong Kong group responsible for the annual Tiananmen vigil maintained their stance that the goal of ending one-party rule in China was merely a \"theoretical and conceptual\" aim, not an actual plan for subversion, according to their defence lawyers. Former alliance leaders Lee Cheuk-yan, Albert Ho, and Chow Hang-tung argued their advocacy for democracy and freedom in mainland China was simply expressing their beliefs, without inciting any actions against the Chinese Communist Party. However, Lee and Ho were convicted of inciting hatred toward the party, while Chow pleaded guilty to the same charge. They were accused of using the vigils to attract supporters and incite them to take action to overthrow the ruling party. Their defence counsel Erik Shum argued the alliance's goal of ending Communist Party rule was \"empty\" and that there was no evidence of anyone being incited to subvert the authorities following the vigils. Shum requested a lenient sentence of no more than five years' imprisonment for his clients.",
  "summary": "Leaders of the now-disbanded group behind Hong Kong’s annual Tiananmen vigil have said ending one-party rule was an “empty slogan” and that they had never incited anyone to overthrow the Chinese government during their three-decade campaign. The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, its former chairman Lee Cheuk-yan, former vice-chairman Albert Ho Chun Yan and…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Hong Kong Free Press",
        "title": "In full: Tiananmen vigil activist Chow Hang-tung’s mitigation after guilty verdict in national security trial",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/in-full-tiananmen-vigil-activist-chow-hang-tungs-mitigation-after",
        "published": "2026-08-28T03:30:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "Goal of Tiananmen vigil group an ‘empty slogan’, not actual plan: defence lawyer",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/goal-of-tiananmen-vigil-group-an-empty-slogan-not-actual-plan-defence-3926659",
        "published": "2026-08-28T08:39:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}