- Hong Kong court sentenced Lee Cheuk-yan to seven years, Chow Hang-tung to seven years and three months, and Albert Ho to five years and two months for their roles in organizing annual Tiananmen vigils.
- The three were convicted in August of 'incitement to subversion' over their activities with the now-disbanded Hong Kong Alliance.
- Taiwan's Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim is making a rare visit to Europe to attend the Ventotene Conference for Freedom and Democracy.
- The Hong Kong Alliance had organized annual Tiananmen vigils in Victoria Park, which have been effectively banned under the national security law.
- Judges cited the group's call to 'end one-party dictatorship' as part of the reasoning for the convictions.
- Chow Hang-tung, one of the convicted, raised both arms and waved at supporters as she was escorted out of the court.
- Germany and France condemned the verdict against Chow, stating that 'peaceful advocacy for human rights does not constitute a crime.'
- Pina Picierno, vice president of the European Parliament, emphasized that 'intimidation cannot decide who participates in our democratic debate.'
- Oleksandra Matviichuk, a 2022 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, is also expected to participate in the Ventotene Conference.
A Hong Kong court sentenced Tiananmen vigil organizers Lee Cheuk-yan, Chow Hang-tung, and Albert Ho to prison terms of five to seven years for incitement to subversion under the national security law. The court's decision reflects the ongoing crackdown on dissent in the city, where the annual vigils have been effectively banned since 2020.12
The sentences were as follows: Lee Cheuk-yan, 69 — seven years; Chow Hang-tung, 41 — seven years and three months; and Albert Ho, 74 — five years and two months after pleading guilty. The trio was convicted in August for their roles in the now-disbanded Hong Kong Alliance, which organized the vigils in Victoria Park. The judges cited the group's calls to “end one-party dictatorship” as a threat to Communist Party rule in Hong Kong.356
Chow, who represented herself, raised her arms in defiance as she was led away, while her mother urged supporters not to feel guilty about the verdict. “This sentencing is a triple tragedy,” said Amnesty International's Sarah Brooks, highlighting the impact on activists and the historical significance of the Tiananmen events.
In a separate development, Taiwan's Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim is visiting Europe for the Ventotene Conference on democracy, a rare trip for a senior Taiwanese official due to potential backlash from Beijing. Hsiao's participation underscores Taiwan's commitment to democratic values amid increasing pressure from China.4
Pina Picierno, vice president of the European Parliament, emphasized the importance of freedom of debate, stating, “Intimidation cannot decide who participates in our democratic debate.”10
“The sentences were handed down to Lee Cheuk-yan (7 years), Chow Hang-tung (7 years, 3 months), and Albert Ho (5 years, 2 months) after their August conviction for incitement to subversion. The Hong Kong Alliance was also fined HK$1.5 million, and the court rejected arguments that the defendants acted within the law.”
DW.com
