Hong Kong Tiananmen vigil organiser, former leaders guilty of inciting subversion

AdvertisementHong Kong courtsHong KongLaw and CrimeHong Kong Tiananmen vigil organiser, former leaders guilty of inciting subversionCourt rules alliance’s push to end ‘one-party dictatorship’ violated national security law and amounted to incitement against Beijing’s leadership 2-MIN READ2-MINBrian WongPublished: 10:28am, 21 Aug 2026A now-disbanded alliance behind Hong Kong’s annual Tiananmen Square vigil, along with two of its former leaders, have been found guilty of inciting subversion under the national security law for advocating an end to “one-party dictatorship” in mainland China. The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, its former chairman Lee Cheuk-yan and former vice-chairwoman Chow Hang-tung were convicted at West Kowloon Court on Friday over one of the group’s operational objectives, which it said was intended to promote democracy and human rights. Former lawmaker Lee and Chow, a barrister, have been remanded in custody for nearly five years. A fourth defendant, former vice-chairman Albert Ho Chun-yan, has also been detained for more than four years and is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to the offence in January. Three High Court judges presiding over the high-profile trial were tasked with determining whether the alliance’s objective of ending one-party rule on the mainland violated the Chinese constitution, which guarantees the Communist Party’s leadership. Prosecutors argued that Article 1 of the constitution barred anyone from overthrowing the leadership of the Communist Party of China, which they said was the “defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics”. The Hong Kong Alliance organised annual candlelight vigils in Victoria Park to commemorate the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown. Photo: Sam TsangThey alleged that the defendants fostered public hatred towards Beijing through “objectively negative” portrayals, inciting others to overthrow the central government under the pretext of promoting democracy and commemorating the Tiananmen Square crackdown in Beijing on June 4, 1989. AdvertisementSelect VoiceSelect Speed0.8x0.9x1.0x1.1x1.2x1.5x1.75x00:0000:001.00x