A Hong Kong court has found two prominent activists, Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung, guilty of inciting subversion. The verdict follows their involvement in the now-disbanded Hong Kong Alliance, a group that organized annual vigils to commemorate the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown. The court ruled that the defendants attempted to undermine state power and stir up hostility against the Chinese Communist Party.
The case is one of the most high-profile trials conducted under the national security law imposed on Hong Kong in 2020. This legislation has transformed the city’s legal and political environment, leading to the detention or departure of most opposition figures. Supporters of the activists emphasize that the court’s decision marks a significant step in the effort to reshape civil society and restrict public memory in the region.
Lee and Chow face a maximum prison sentence of 10 years, with the final sentencing scheduled for a later date. A third individual, former lawmaker Albert Ho, previously entered a guilty plea in January. As legal proceedings conclude, the case serves as a point of contention regarding the erosion of political freedoms that were once a standard part of life in the international financial hub.
Outside the courthouse, police maintained a presence as citizens gathered to observe the outcome. This conviction reflects the current policy toward public dissent in Hong Kong, where traditional forms of political expression are under close government scrutiny. The trial stands as a record of the ongoing tension between local memory and the central government's enforcement of national security.