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Hong Kong activists convicted of subversion over Tiananmen vigils
A Hong Kong court has convicted two prominent pro-democracy activists, Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung, of incitement to subversion under a Beijing-imposed national security law. The convictions involve their roles in the now-dissolved Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, which for decades organized annual candlelight vigils to commemorate the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown.
Judges ruled that the defendants' use of the slogan ‘end one-party dictatorship’ was intended to undermine the leadership of the Communist Party. Both Lee and Chow face a maximum prison sentence of 10 years. A third leader, Albert Ho Chun-yan, previously pleaded guilty to similar charges in January.
The verdicts have drawn widespread international condemnation. The United States and Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council called for the immediate release of the activists, citing concerns over political persecution. The European Union stated the convictions reflect a continuing deterioration of freedoms in Hong Kong. Conversely, the Hong Kong Legislative Council condemned foreign criticisms as ‘baseless slanders,’ maintaining that the court applied the law based on evidence and judicial independence.
Entities
China · Chow Hang-tung · Communist Party of China · Hong Kong · Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China · Hong Kong High Court · Lee Cheuk-yan · Tang Ngok-kwan · Victoria Park
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The United States condemned the Hong Kong court verdicts and called for the immediate release of the defendants. ntdca.com
- [● 9 SOURCES] Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung face a maximum prison sentence of 10 years. ntdca.com · www.theindianpanorama.news · international.sindonews.com · www.darnews.com · www.durangoherald.com · +4 more
- [● 7 SOURCES] Activist Tang Ngok-kwan continues to discreetly visit memorial sites to commemorate the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown. www.darnews.com · www.durangoherald.com · mymotherlode.com · ca.news.yahoo.com · toronto.citynews.ca · +2 more
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Hong Kong government condemned criticisms of the court's decision as baseless slanders. www.darnews.com · www.durangoherald.com · mymotherlode.com
- [● 9 SOURCES] Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung were convicted of incitement to subversion. ntdca.com · www.theindianpanorama.news · international.sindonews.com · www.darnews.com · www.durangoherald.com · +4 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China was found guilty. ntdca.com · www.theindianpanorama.news · www.darnews.com · www.durangoherald.com · offthepress.com · +4 more
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The European Union stated the convictions confirm the continuing deterioration of freedoms in Hong Kong. ntdca.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Albert Ho Chun-yan pleaded guilty to charges in January. ntdca.com · international.sindonews.com · www.gavroche-thailande.com · www.dimsumdaily.hk
- [● 3 SOURCES] Judges ruled that the slogan ‘end one-party dictatorship’ was used to incite subversion by undermining the Communist Party. offthepress.com · www.dimsumdaily.hk · www.world-today-news.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Hong Kong Legislative Council condemned foreign criticisms of the court's decision as baseless slanders. www.dimsumdaily.hk