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Trial begins for Hong Kong activists over Tiananmen vigils
Three prominent activists went on trial in Hong Kong on Thursday, accused of inciting subversion under the city's national security law for organizing annual vigils commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown.
The defendants and their charges
Chow Hang-tung, 40, Lee Cheuk-yan, 68, and Albert Ho, 74, face up to 10 years in prison if convicted. Ho pleaded guilty, while Chow and Lee maintain their innocence. All three have been detained since 2021.
The trio were key figures in the now-disbanded Hong Kong Alliance (HKA), which for decades organized vigils marking the violent suppression of pro-democracy protests in Beijing.
Background: Tiananmen and Hong Kong's role
Hong Kong was once the only place in Chinese territory where public gatherings to remember the 1989 crackdown were permitted. Authorities banned the vigils in 2020, citing COVID-19 restrictions, and they have not resumed since.
The HKA was founded in May 1989 to support student-led pro-democracy demonstrations. Weeks later, the Chinese government deployed troops and tanks to clear Tiananmen Square, resulting in hundreds, possibly thousands, of deaths.
For over 30 years, the HKA demanded accountability for the crackdown, the release of political prisoners, and democratic reforms. On the mainland, public discussion or remembrance of the event remains prohibited.
Prosecution's case and legal arguments
Prosecutors allege that one of the HKA's slogans-"bring the one-party rule to an end"-violates the Chinese constitution and constitutes subversion. The trial is expected to last 75 days.
On Wednesday, judges rejected Chow's attempt to dismiss her charge, ruling that the prosecution had sufficiently outlined the alleged unlawful acts. Her legal team had argued the charges lacked specificity.
International reaction and broader implications
Critics argue the national security law, imposed by Beijing in 2020, has eroded Hong Kong's autonomy and instilled fear among activists. The law criminalizes acts deemed secessionist, subversive, terrorist, or collusive with foreign forces.
"This case is not about national security. It is about rewriting history and punishing those who refuse to forget the victims of the Tiananmen crackdown,"
Sarah Brooks, Amnesty International's deputy regional director for Asia, told Reuters
In a 2021 interview with the BBC, Chow Hang-tung defended the vigils, stating they were acts of remembrance, not political provocation. She was arrested on June 4, 2022, the anniversary of the crackdown.
What's next
The trial will continue with witness testimonies and legal arguments over the coming months. A verdict is not expected until later in 2026.
