{
  "id": 6793792,
  "title": "Hong Kong’s Tiananmen activists sentenced to up to seven years in prison",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/hong-kongs-tiananmen-activists-sentenced-to-up-to-seven-years-in-6793792",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-11T19:13:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/hong-kongs-tiananmen-activists-sentenced-to-up-to-seven-years-in-prison/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "Three Hong Kong activists who organised annual vigils commemorating Beijing's 1989 crackdown on Tiananmen Square protests have been handed prison sentences of up to seven years.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 9,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post - Hong Kong",
        "title": "Hong Kong home prices headed for 15% gain this year, Midland forecast says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/10/hong-kong-home-prices-headed-for-15-gain-this-year-midland-forecast",
        "published": "2026-09-10T23:00:09.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "France 24",
        "title": "Hong Kong court sentences Tiananmen vigil activists to between 5 and 7 years in jail",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/hong-kong-court-sentences-tiananmen-vigil-activists-to-between-5-and",
        "published": "2026-09-11T01:49:17.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC News",
        "title": "Hong Kong's Tiananmen activists sentenced to up to seven years in prison",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/hong-kongs-tiananmen-activists-sentenced-to-up-to-seven-years-in",
        "published": "2026-09-11T02:49:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Nikkei Asia",
        "title": "Hong Kong Tiananmen vigil organizers sentenced to up to 7 years, 3 months",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/hong-kong-tiananmen-vigil-organizers-sentenced-to-up-to-7-years-3",
        "published": "2026-09-11T03:41:25.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Hong Kong sentences Tiananmen activists to between 5 and 7 years in jail",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/hong-kong-sentences-tiananmen-activists-to-between-5-and-7-years-in",
        "published": "2026-09-11T03:50:12.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "NPR",
        "title": "Hong Kong court sentences 3 Tiananmen vigil organizers to prison",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/hong-kong-court-sentences-3-tiananmen-vigil-organizers-to-prison",
        "published": "2026-09-11T06:42:04.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "DW English (Top Stories)",
        "title": "Hong Kong Tiananmen activists sentenced up to 7 years",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/hong-kong-tiananmen-activists-sentenced-up-to-7-years",
        "published": "2026-09-11T08:40:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Hong Kong sentences Tiananmen activists to between 5 and 7 years in jail",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/hong-kong-sentences-tiananmen-activists-to-between-5-and-7-years-in-6785191",
        "published": "2026-09-11T17:18:50.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}