Hong Kong court hears final arguments in the trial of Tiananmen vigil organizers
Chow Hang-tung and Lee Cheuk-yan could face up to 10 years if convicted of inciting subversion over the banned vigils.
- A Hong Kong court began hearing closing arguments Monday, May 18, 2026, in the national security trial of pro-democracy activists Chow Hang-tung and Lee Cheuk-yan.
- Authorities charged the pair under the Beijing-imposed National Security Law, claiming their organization of annual Tiananmen vigils served as evidence of the group "endangering national security."
- Prosecutors argued the alliance's demand of "ending one-party rule" incited unlawful subversion, though Chow and Lee denied this meant ending the Communist Party's leadership.
- Amnesty International designated both as prisoners of conscience, while Deputy Regional Director Sarah Brooks criticized the "vague, overly broad and arbitrary definitions of" subversion used in the case.
- If convicted, the activists face up to 10 years in prison for actions occurring in a city where Tiananmen Square commemorations have been banned since 2020.
32 Articles
32 Articles
Hong Kong court must not ‘pay lip service’ to human rights, lawyer tells trial of Tiananmen vigil activists
A defence lawyer for a Tiananmen vigil activist has urged a Hong Kong court not to “pay lip service” to human rights protections, arguing that calls to “end one-party rule” in China should be considered legitimate political expressions. Alliance leaders (from left) Lee Cheuk-yan, Chow Hang-tung, and Albert Ho appear on the giant screen at Hong Kong’s annual Tiananmen crackdown vigil on June 4, 2019. File photo: Todd R. Darling/HKFP. Barrister Er…
The Toronto Star
Hong Kong court hears final arguments in the trial of Tiananmen vigil organizers
HONG KONG (AP) — A Hong Kong court was hearing the final arguments Monday in the national security trial for two organizers of the large vigils remembering the 1989 Tiananmen
Associated Press News
Hong Kong court hears final arguments in former Tiananmen vigil organizers' national security trial
A Hong Kong court is hearing the final arguments in a national security trial for two people who organized large vigils remembering the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown.
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