Two former organizers of Tiananmen vigil convicted in Hong Kong
Two former organizers of Hong Kong’s decades-old vigil in remembrance of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown were convicted Friday in a national security case brought under a China-imposed law that has effectively crushed the Chinese territory’s previously thriving pro-democracy movement, reports BritPanorama.
Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung, former leaders of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, were charged in 2021 with inciting subversion under the national security law. They both pleaded not guilty and face a maximum prison term of 10 years. The alliance itself was also found guilty.
The verdict represents a significant moment for Hong Kong’s once-vibrant pro-democracy movement, which has suffered extensive repression from local and Chinese authorities.
For three decades, the candlelight vigil organized by the alliance was the only large-scale public commemoration of the Tiananmen Square crackdown on Chinese territory, attracting tens of thousands of participants annually. The event was banned in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, just weeks before the security law was imposed to quell massive anti-government protests in 2019.
Legal analysts indicate that the trial symbolizes a broader erosion of freedom of expression in the former British colony, which returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. Lee, 69, and Chow, 41, are expected to be sentenced at a later date, although the judges have not yet disclosed the reasoning behind their conviction, stating that a full judgment would be available online later.
Eric Lai, a senior fellow with the Georgetown Center for Asian Law, noted that the charge of inciting subversion is frequently employed in mainland China to suppress the actions of human rights lawyers, activists, and intellectuals. “We can see to what extent the court in Hong Kong falls into the level of the party-led judiciary in the mainland through the criminal verdict,” he remarked.
During the trial, prosecutors argued that the case was not political, framing it instead as an indictment against calls to incite others to overthrow China’s ruling Communist Party through unlawful means. They highlighted one of the group’s core demands: “ending one-party rule.” In response, Lee asserted that the intention was to advocate for democracy, enabling the populace to decide their leadership without the imposition of “dictatorship” by the Communist Party.
Chow, who defended herself in court, asserted that “ending one-party rule” refers to dismantling a system where power is unconstrained. She criticized the reversal of concepts of truth and justice within the trial’s context.
Chow also shared her experience of being restrained in handcuffs and chains during court transport, stating, “Justice lives in the hearts of the people. There is no need to look up to this kind of top-down ruling, and one verdict doesn’t matter much.”
Initially expected to last 75 days, the trial concluded its closing statements on the 24th day. An earlier defendant, Albert Ho, entered a guilty plea, which could typically allow for a reduced sentence. Lee and Chow are anticipated to request lighter penalties during a separate hearing, possibly alongside Ho.
As the verdict unfolded, crowds gathered outside the court despite the drizzling rain. Many expressed their confusion and disappointment at the decision. One former alliance member, Tang Ngok-kwan, reported that police barred him from joining the line unless he relinquished certain “sensitive” materials, including bookmarks commemorating June 4.
Former vigil-goer Margaret Chan, who queued from early morning, noted, “The alliance’s name carries the word ‘patriotic.’ Everyone is patriotic. How to incite? Incite others to be patriotic?”
The events surrounding the 1989 crackdown resulted in the deaths of hundreds, possibly thousands, as military forces entered Beijing’s city center, marking a pivotal moment in China’s modern history. The ramifications of this incident steered the nation towards economic reform without accompanying political liberalization.
Following the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions, the former vigil site has been transformed into a space occupied by pro-Beijing groups hosting a carnival around the Tiananmen anniversary.
Beijing has insisted that the 2020 security law is essential for maintaining stability in Hong Kong. This law has facilitated the jailing of numerous activists, including high-profile figures like pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai. In the wake of these political shifts, various civil society organizations have dissolved, including the Hong Kong Alliance.
