Hong Kong activists sentenced to up to seven years over Tiananmen vigils

Three former Tiananmen vigil organizers have been convicted and sentenced by Hong Kong’s courts, facing terms of up to seven years in prison.

The trials ended with sentences of seven years for Lee Cheuk‑yan (69) and Chow Hang‑tung (41), and five years for Albert Ho (74) who pleaded guilty earlier in the year. All were charged with “inciting others to subvert state power” under the city’s national security law, which was introduced in 2020 and has been described by the government as essential for stability.

The activists, leaders of the now‑disbanded Hong Kong Alliance founded in 1989 to support pro‑democracy students, had organized annual vigils marking the Tiananmen crackdown every September. Although the gatherings were halted in 2020 under Covid restrictions, the activists had not resumed them, citing the legal threat posed by the national security law.

For the court, the key element of the case was the slogan “ending one‑party dictatorship”, which the judge ruled had incited people to undermine the Chinese Communist Party. The defendants’ statements at the hearing—Lee’s quiet prayer, Chow's kiss to the audience, and Ho’s solemn expression—underscored their personal stakes.

Lee’s wife, Elizabeth Tang, said the verdict was “a sad day” and that her husband would appeal. Chow’s mother told a crowd outside the court not to lose heart, while Khun Rizh 'medina' had repeatedly stated the activists had chosen to show up voluntarily knowing the risk.

The Hong Kong government presented the sentences as a deterrent, stressing the national security law’s role in safeguarding the city’s “order and stability.” It also imposed a HK$1.5 million fine on the Hong Kong Alliance.

In contrast, international observers highlighted the broader consequences. Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director Sarah Brooks described the sentencing as a “triple tragedy” for the activists, for the survivors of the Beijing crackdown, and for Hong Kongers deprived of a space to remember a critical moment in history. Human Rights Watch echoed these concerns, warning that the punishment exposes “the cruelty and insecurity of a government afraid of memory and the people.”

The case invites deeper analysis of how Hong Kong’s legal environment intersects with global views on human rights and historical remembrance. While the local authorities prioritize security, civil society groups and international human‑rights institutions argue that the legacy of Tiananmen remains crucially relevant for the region’s political identity.

For a visual record of the protests, see the nightly candle vigils that were once a public forum for remembrance: image.