Hong Kong Court Convicts Tiananmen Vigil Organizers of Inciting Subversion
CenterRigor 5227 sources
The Story
Two Hong Kong activists, Lee Cheuk-yan, 69, and Chow Hang-tung, 41, were found guilty of incitement to subversion on Friday, August 21. They were leaders of the now-disbanded Hong Kong Alliance, which organized annual vigils commemorating China's 1989 Tiananmen crackdown. The conviction falls under Beijing's national security law, imposed in 2020. A press summary states they incited other persons to organise, plan, commit or participate in acts by unlawful means with a view to subverting the state power. Each faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail, with sentencing to be determined later. The trial for Lee and Chow began in January and spanned 24 days. A third defendant, 74-year-old former lawmaker Albert Ho, pleaded guilty in January. Chow, who represented herself, told the court in May that the law itself was on trial. The court ruling stated that Lee, Chow, and Ho had all along been hostile toward China's ruling Communist Party and the central government. Judges determined they intentionally encouraged supporters of the alliance to wait for the right time to carry out the goal of 'end one-party dictatorship' with unlawful means. Lee's wife, Elizabeth Tang, described the judgment as unjust and absurd, noting an absence of evidence for illegal means. France and Germany deeply regret Chow's conviction, stating that "Peaceful advocacy for human rights does not constitute a crime." Chow received the Franco-German prize for human rights in 2023. Taiwan called on China to stop political persecution and immediately release those detained in the case. The Hong Kong Alliance was founded in May 1989 to support pro-democracy rallies, and authorities banned its annual gatherings in 2020, citing Covid-19 policies, with vigils never resuming.
The Spread
Left
What they agree on
- Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung were found guilty of "incitement to subversion" in Hong Kong on Friday, August 21.
- The convictions were made under Beijing's national security law, which was imposed in 2020.
- Lee and Chow were former leaders of the now-disbanded Hong Kong Alliance, which organized annual Tiananmen Square vigils.
- Both defendants face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, with sentencing to be determined at a later date.
- A third defendant, Albert Ho, pleaded guilty to the charge in January.
Where they split
- The Guardian and Deutsche Welle highlight the international reaction to the verdict, specifically mentioning statements of regret from France, Germany, and Taiwan.
- Hong Kong Free Press and Kyodo News provide more extensive details from the court's ruling, including the judges' reasoning that the defendants were "hostile" toward the Communist Party.
- BBC News and Al Jazeera include specific quotes from Chow Hang-tung stating that the law itself was on trial, a detail less prominent in other coverage.
- Some international sources like France 24 and The Japan Times focus on the broader implications for freedom of expression in Hong Kong following the verdict.
Source Perspectives
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