Hong Kong convicts activists in national security trial

A Hong Kong court has convicted two prominent pro-democracy activists, Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung, under Beijing's national security law. The pair were found guilty of "incitement to subversion" for their roles in organizing candlelight vigils that marked the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown.

Lee, 69, and Chow, 41, were charged in 2021 and maintained their innocence throughout the trial. Prosecutors argued that their actions "endanger(ed) national security in the name of human rights." The court's decision means they face a maximum prison sentence of 10 years, with sentencing scheduled for a later date.

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incited other persons to organize, plan, commit or participate in acts by unlawful means with a view to subverting the state power

The convictions highlight the stringent application of the national security law, imposed on Hong Kong in 2020 following massive anti-government protests in 2019. Public commemoration of the Tiananmen Square crackdown, where Chinese troops and tanks suppressed pro-democracy demonstrations, has been effectively prohibited since the law's enactment.

The verdict against Lee and Chow signifies a further crackdown on dissent in the city, as authorities continue to dismantle spaces for political expression and historical remembrance that challenge Beijing's narrative.

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endanger(ed) national security in the name of human rights.