Archive · 21 Aug 2026
Hong Kong Activists Convicted, Face Up to 10 Years
Two Hong Kong activists were found guilty in court.
Their case involved candlelight events remembering China’s 1989 Tiananmen crackdown.
Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung helped organise these events for many years.
The events were connected to a group called the Hong Kong Alliance.
The group has since been disbanded.
Prosecutors accused the activists of encouraging people to challenge state power.
The activists said they only wanted democratic reform, not to overthrow the government.
They could each face up to 10 years in prison under Hong Kong’s national security law.
Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung were found guilty of inciting subversion.
The convictions relate to their roles in organising annual Tiananmen crackdown commemorations.
Both activists were involved with the now-disbanded Hong Kong Alliance.
The court said they encouraged others to organise, plan or participate in acts intended to subvert state power.
The defendants denied the charges, saying their advocacy sought democratic reform rather than government overthrow.
- Who
- Hong Kong activists Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung.
- What
- They were convicted of inciting subversion over their roles in organising Tiananmen crackdown commemorations.
- When
- Friday; the article does not provide a specific date.
- Where
- Hong Kong.
- Why
- The court said they encouraged others to organise, plan or participate in acts intended to subvert state power; the activists said their advocacy sought democratic reform.
Activists’ Defense
Court’s Finding
Purpose of the advocacy
Activists’ Defense
Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung denied the charges and said their advocacy was aimed at democratic reform rather than overthrowing the government.
Court’s Finding
The court found that they had incited others to organise, plan or participate in acts intended to subvert state power.
Annual vigils
Activists’ Defense
The activists helped organise annual candlelight vigils commemorating China’s 1989 Tiananmen crackdown.
Court’s Finding
Their roles in organising the vigils were treated as part of conduct falling under the incitement-to-subversion charge.
- Defendants
- Lee Cheuk-yan, 69, and Chow Hang-tung, 41
- Charge
- Incitement to subversion
- Law
- Hong Kong’s national security law
- Organisation
- The now-disbanded Hong Kong Alliance
- Commemorations
- Annual candlelight vigils remembering China’s 1989 Tiananmen crackdown
- Potential sentence
- Up to 10 years in prison
- Verdict
- Both defendants were found guilty on Friday