What You Need to Know
• Lee Cheuk-yan, 69, and Chow Hang-tung, 41, were convicted of inciting subversion in Hong Kong.
• The High Court ruling is one of the most significant under the national security law imposed in 2020.
• Both activists face up to 10 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for a later date.
Lee Cheuk-yan, a former legislator, and Chow Hang-tung, a lawyer, were convicted of inciting subversion by Hong Kong’s High Court on Friday. This conviction is one of the most serious under the national security law enacted by Beijing in 2020. The two activists, who have been in detention since their arrest in September 2021, pleaded not guilty and could face up to 10 years in prison, with sentencing to be determined later. A third defendant, veteran activist Albert Ho, 74, pleaded guilty prior to the trial. Lee and Chow were prominent figures in the now-disbanded Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, which organized annual vigils for the victims of the Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989.
Why It Matters
The convictions of Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung highlight the increasing suppression of political dissent in Hong Kong under the national security law. The Hong Kong Alliance, which they led, was instrumental in advocating for democratic reforms and accountability regarding the Tiananmen Square events. The case has drawn international attention to the erosion of civil liberties in Hong Kong, as Beijing continues to exert its influence over the region. This legal action reflects broader trends of diminishing political freedoms and the criminalization of dissent in Hong Kong since the implementation of the national security law.
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