Three former leaders of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China have received prison sentences ranging from over five years to more than seven years BBC. The defendants were convicted under Hong Kong’s national security law for inciting subversion NBC News, stemming from their roles in organizing the city's annual candle-light events Yahoo News. The legal proceedings concluded at West Kowloon Court, marking another major application of the security legislation implemented in 2020 UCA News.
Sentencing and Convictions Under the National Security Law
Lee Cheuk-yan, a 69-year-old former lawmaker, was sentenced to seven years in prison BBC. Chow Hang-tung, a 41-year-old barrister, received a sentence of seven years and three months NBC News. Albert Ho, a 74-year-old defendant, was sentenced to five years and two months Yahoo News. While Chow and Lee pleaded not guilty to the charges, Ho entered a guilty plea in January UCA News. All three leaders had already been held in custody since September 2021 NBC News, with Ho's bail having been revoked earlier in March 2023 UCA News.
The court determined that the alliance's political slogan demanding an "end one-party dictatorship" constituted unlawful incitement to subvert state power BBC. Prosecutors brought the charges against the alliance figures under the national security framework, which carries potential penalties of up to ten years in prison NBC News. In addition to the individual prison terms, the Hong Kong Alliance itself was ordered to pay a fine of HK$1.5 million Yahoo News.
The targeted organization had previously coordinated large annual gatherings in Victoria Park, Causeway Bay UCA News, to commemorate the victims of the Tiananmen Square crackdown. Those traditional assemblies were banned in 2020 under official justifications citing Covid-19 restrictions BBC, and the alliance formally disbanded the following year in 2021 NBC News.
Reactions and International Context Surrounding the Verdict
Following the sentencing, Western governments and various human rights organizations strongly condemned the court's decision NBC News, including official criticism voiced by the United States Yahoo News. International observers raised concerns regarding the continued erosion of civil liberties and political freedoms within the territory under the sweeping security framework BBC.
Conversely, local authorities defended the application of the national security legislation NBC News. Hong Kong officials maintained that the legal measures and subsequent rulings were entirely necessary to maintain public order and regional stability BBC, countering external criticism by emphasizing local sovereignty and the rule of law Yahoo News.
The alliance itself had a long-standing history of calling for democratic reforms in mainland China alongside its memorial activities UCA News. The group's activities ended entirely after the 2021 dissolution NBC News, leaving the physical grounds of Victoria Park without the historical candle-light events that had taken place there for decades BBC.
The conclusion of the trial at West Kowloon Court UCA News finalizes the judicial penalties for the primary leadership figures who remained connected to the defunct organization Yahoo News, following nearly five years of intermittent legal actions and detentions that began when the defendants were first placed in custody in September 2021 NBC News.