Hong Kong Tiananmen vigil organizers face prison
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The gist
Hong Kong court convicted Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung of inciting subversion on Aug 21, 2026. They face up to 10 years in prison, sentencing later.
Background
Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung were former leaders of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, which organized annual candlelight vigils in Hong Kong to commemorate the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown. The vigils drew tens of thousands of people each year until they were banned in 2020. The pair were charged in 2021 under the Beijing-imposed national security law with inciting subversion, and their trial has been closely watched as a symbol of the erosion of freedoms in Hong Kong.
How it unfolded
- 2021Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung were charged with inciting subversion under the national security law; they pleaded not guilty and were held in detention.
- 2023Chow and two other core members were each sentenced to 4 1/2 months in prison in a separate case for refusing to cooperate with authorities, but the convictions were overturned in 2025.
- Aug 20, 2026Ahead of the verdict, Chow posted on Patreon describing being shackled and walked 'like a dog' by correctional officers, and said 'Justice lives in the hearts of the people.'
- Aug 21, 2026A three-judge panel at West Kowloon Court found Lee and Chow guilty of inciting subversion; they face up to 10 years in prison, with sentencing to be held later. The Hong Kong Alliance was also found guilty.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- The court ruled that the pair incited others to overthrow China's communist leadership, citing Article 23 of the national security law.
- Support
- Chow said 'Justice lives in the hearts of the people. There is no need to look up to this kind of top-down ruling, and one verdict doesn't matter much.'
- Analysts
- Observers say the case symbolizes the erosion of freedoms in Hong Kong under the national security law.
Still unverified
The authorities have not detailed the content of the social media posts that allegedly incited subversion.