Hong Kong (AFP) – A Hong Kong court convicted two activists who organised annual vigils marking China's deadly Tiananmen crackdown of "incitement to subversion" on Friday, with rights groups condemning the silencing of free speech.
Issued on: 21/08/2026 - 04:56Modified: 21/08/2026 - 07:33
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Lee Cheuk-yan, 69, and Chow Hang-tung, 41, "incited other persons to organise, plan, commit or participate in acts by unlawful means with a view to subverting the state power", said a press summary of the ruling.The three-judge panel said they found both defendants had committed acts that constituted "overthrowing or undermining the basic system... established by the Constitution" of China.They face a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail, with sentencing expected at a later date.Lee and Chow were charged with "incitement to subversion" in 2021 and have been behind bars since, under a Beijing-imposed national security law.
Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Lee Cheuk-yan © Peter PARKS / AFP/File
