A Hong Kong court on Friday sentenced three prominent activists to prison terms ranging from five to seven years for their roles in organising annual vigils commemorating the Tiananmen Square crackdown. The verdicts, delivered under the city's national security law, have triggered sharp rebukes from the United Nations, human rights groups, and several Western governments.
Lee Cheuk-yan, 69, Chow Hang-tung, 41, and Albert Ho, 74, had been in custody since their initial arrests in 2021. The court found that their activities, including calling for an "end to one-party dictatorship," violated the sweeping security legislation imposed by Beijing on Hong Kong. The trio were key figures in the now-disbanded Hong Kong Alliance, which had organised the candlelight vigils in Victoria Park for decades.
Sentences and reactions
Lee and Chow, who both pleaded not guilty, received sentences of seven years and seven years and three months respectively. Ho, a former lawmaker who pleaded guilty in January, was sentenced to five years and two months. Chow, a barrister who represented herself, told the court last month that she rejected the convictions and had "nothing to repent for."
The three arrived at court smiling and waving to supporters before entering the dock. Their case has become a symbol of the tightening grip on dissent in Hong Kong since the national security law took effect in 2020.
Judge Alex Lee also addressed the fate of the "Pillar of Shame," a statue commemorating the victims of the 1989 crackdown, which prosecutors sought to confiscate. The judge said a decision on its ownership would be made later.
The statue was removed from its long-time plinth at the University of Hong Kong in late 2021, and other universities followed suit. The Hong Kong Alliance also operated a museum dedicated to the events of 4 June 1989, which has since been closed.
Chow, speaking ahead of the sentencing, said the prosecution was an attempt "to erase memories, particularly those of June 4, by reading too much into certain slogans."
The verdicts have drawn condemnation from international bodies and foreign governments, who view the trials as a further erosion of Hong Kong's autonomy. The European Union and several member states have expressed concern, with some calling for the release of the activists.
Hong Kong was once the only place on Chinese soil where public vigils for the Tiananmen victims were permitted. Since the national security law, such commemorations have been effectively outlawed, and the city's once-vibrant civil society has been significantly curtailed.
The case underscores the broader challenges facing Hong Kong's legal system and its international standing. As the city marks another year under the security law, observers say the crackdown on dissent is likely to continue, with little sign of leniency from Beijing.
