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Hong Kong Tiananmen vigil group leaders convicted under national security law
The West Kowloon Court remanded Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung in custody for nearly five years following their convictions tied to the alliance’s push to end one party rule on the mainland.
A now disbanded Hong Kong alliance linked to the city’s annual Tiananmen Square vigil, along with two former leaders, was convicted under China’s national security law for inciting subversion over the group’s stated objective to end one party dictatorship on the mainland. The convictions were delivered at West Kowloon Court on Friday, according to SCMP Economy.
SCMP Economy reports that the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, its former chairman Lee Cheuk-yan and its former vice chairwoman Chow Hang-tung were found guilty over an operational objective aimed at promoting democracy and human rights. Lee and Chow were remanded in custody for nearly five years.
The article also says a fourth defendant, former vice chairman Albert Ho Chun-yan, has been detained for more than four years and is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to the offence in January.
SCMP Economy adds that three High Court judges had to decide whether the alliance’s objective violated the Chinese constitution, which guarantees Communist Party leadership, with prosecutors arguing that Article 1 bars attempts to overthrow that leadership. Prosecutors further alleged the defendants fostered public hatred toward Beijing and incited others to overthrow the central government under the pretext of promoting democracy and commemorating the June 4, 1989 crackdown.