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A court in Hong Kong has sentenced three prominent pro-democracy activists to prison terms ranging from five to more than seven years over their role in organizing annual vigils commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown. The sentences mark another major legal milestone in the ongoing transformation of the city's political and civil landscape under Beijing's tightening oversight.
The defendants were convicted under the sweeping national security legislation imposed by China's central government in 2020, following months of massive and occasionally violent pro-democracy demonstrations that gripped Hong Kong in 2019. Judicial authorities ruled that the activists had violated the Chinese constitution by repeatedly promoting the slogan calling for an "end to one-party dictatorship."
Chow Hang-tung, a 41-year-old barrister who entered a not-guilty plea, was handed the longest term of seven years and three months. Fellow organizer Lee Cheuk-yan, 69, who likewise contested the allegations, received a seven-year prison term. Co-defendant Albert Ho, a 74-year-old former legislator who entered a guilty plea earlier this year, was sentenced to five years and two months behind bars.
All three defendants have remained in custody since they were formally charged in 2021. The presiding court confirmed that their final terms will take into account the time they have already served during the extended detention period.
In their ruling, the judges noted that although the case did not involve violent conduct and the defendants had not laid out a specific operational timetable to achieve an end to one-party rule, the offense remained of an inherently serious nature under national security provisions.
State prosecutors successfully argued that the supreme leadership of the Chinese Communist Party is formally established under Article 1 of the national constitution. The court dismissed defense arguments that the trio acted in the genuine belief that their advocacy fell squarely within the freedom of speech protections historically granted to Hong Kong residents.
Chow, who conducted her own legal defense throughout the trial, maintained a defiant stance, having previously told the court that she had nothing to repent for. Upon hearing the sentencing, she raised both arms to wave at onlookers in the gallery before correctional officers led her away from the dock.
Outside the courtroom, supporters gathered to console Chow's mother, Medina Chow Lau Wah-chun, who praised her daughter’s resilience. She told reporters that Chow had kept her spirits high throughout the trial, remarking that while she might not fit the mold of a conventional lawyer, she had proven to be an outstanding defendant.
Lee also expressed solidarity with those in attendance, crossing himself, smiling, and bowing toward his wife, Elizabeth Tang Yin-ngor, and other supporters, including veteran activist Cardinal Joseph Zen. Following the hearing, Tang voiced profound grief and anger over the severe penalties, confirming that Lee would definitely pursue an appeal against the court's decision.
The proceedings took place amid an intensive security operation, with dozens of police personnel establishing cordons around the courthouse to control the assembled crowds. Following the sentencing, Steve Li, the head of the national security police division, addressed the media, characterizing the prison terms as a stern warning against similar political acts and cautioning the public against underestimating the authorities' resolve in enforcing security laws.
The three activists served as top leaders of the Hong Kong Alliance, a now-dissolved civil society organization that for decades organized the iconic June 4 candlelight vigils in the city's Victoria Park. The group also managed a dedicated museum chronicling the military crackdown on peaceful demonstrators and political reform advocates around Beijing's Tiananmen Square in 1989.
For decades, Hong Kong and nearby Macau remained the sole locations on Chinese territory where residents could openly gather to mourn the victims of the June 4 crackdown. However, public observances of the historical event have been effectively eradicated since the national security law took effect.
The convictions and penalties have drawn widespread international rebuke from foreign governments, the United Nations, and human rights watchdogs. Taiwan’s primary China policy agency denounced the rulings, asserting that peaceful advocacy for human rights and democracy does not constitute a crime and accusing authorities of carrying out political trials on fabricated charges to shield an authoritarian system.
International rights organizations also voiced alarm over the precedent set by the ruling. Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, stated that the harsh sentences underscore the insecurity of an administration that fears memory and its own populace.
Amnesty International Deputy Regional Director Sarah Brooks described the sentencing as a deep tragedy on multiple fronts, emphasizing that it penalizes dedicated activists, undermines the memory of Tiananmen victims, and deprives future generations of Hongkongers of the ability to engage with a pivotal chapter in modern Chinese history.
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