A Hong Kong court heard arguments regarding the sentencing of three former leaders of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, who were convicted of inciting subversion under the national security law. Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung were found guilty on Aug. 21 after pleading not guilty, while Albert Ho had entered a guilty plea earlier. All three face a maximum prison term of 10 years, with sentencing expected within two weeks.
The three defendants and their organization were charged under the security law imposed by Beijing, which has significantly affected Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement. The alliance was primarily known for organizing the only large-scale public commemoration in China that attracted tens of thousands of people annually for three decades to remember victims of the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown. The alliance was dissolved following the charges.
During the sentencing arguments, the government-appointed judges stated that the defendants had intentionally encouraged supporters to pursue the alliance’s goal of ending one-party dictatorship through unlawful means. The judges concluded the defendants harbored long-standing opposition to the Communist Party and did not genuinely believe their actions would comply with the security law. However, defense arguments maintained that the alliance’s advocacy work involved no violence and that China’s political system remained stable despite the group’s promotional efforts.
Chow, representing herself in court, argued that the verdict effectively criminalized the pursuit of democracy and stated she would continue advocating for democratic change regardless of her imprisonment status. The security law permits sentences ranging from five to ten years for serious subversion convictions, or up to five years for cases deemed less severe. The case has drawn international concern, with critics pointing to it as evidence of diminished freedoms in Hong Kong since its 1997 return to Chinese rule, though Hong Kong authorities maintain the court applied applicable laws based on evidence presented.
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