Hong Kong Activists Convicted Under National Security Law Over Tiananmen Vigil Organizing
In Hong Kong, two former organizers of the annual Tiananmen Square massacre vigils, Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung, were convicted under the national security law on charges of inciting subversion. The Hong Kong Alliance, which organized the vigils, was also…
Philadelphia, PA, August 21, 2026 —
Two former organizers of Hong Kong’s annual Tiananmen Square massacre vigils have been convicted under the national security law. Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung were found guilty of charges related to inciting subversion. The Hong Kong Alliance, the group that had organized the vigils, was also convicted.
The ruling stems from activities associated with the vigils, which commemorated the 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Beijing. The court determined that the organization’s slogan, calling to “end one-party dictatorship,” was interpreted as an effort to undermine the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party.
The national security law, imposed by Beijing in 2020, has been used to prosecute numerous activists and critics of the government. This verdict further indicates the law’s application to political dissent and historical commemorations previously permitted in the semi-autonomous city.
Details regarding the specific sentences for Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung were not immediately provided. The conviction of the Hong Kong Alliance signifies a broader impact on civil society organizations operating in Hong Kong.
Story summarized from the original created by KANIS LEUNG on www.inquirer.com, see more information here.
