HONG KONG (AP) – A Hong Kong court has concluded the final arguments in the national security trial for two former organizers of the city's vigils commemorating the Tiananmen Square crackdown of 1989. Judge Alex Lee, one of the three judges appointed by the government, expressed hopes of delivering a verdict in July for Chow Hang-tung and Lee Cheuk-yan, former leaders of the now-defunct Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China.
The Hong Kong Alliance historically organized large-scale public commemorations for the Tiananmen Square crackdown, which drew tens of thousands of participants until the event was banned in 2020, coinciding with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Chow and Lee were charged in 2021 with inciting subversion under the national security law imposed by Beijing. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The defendants pleaded not guilty earlier this year.
Observers have noted that the prosecution of Chow and Lee, along with the suppression of the vigil, represents a significant decline in freedoms that were promised by Beijing following Hong Kong's return to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. The Hong Kong and Beijing governments have asserted that the national security law is imperative for the city's stability. During the trial, the prosecution emphasized that elevating demands for "ending one-party rule," which was a central tenet of the alliance's advocacy, indicates an attempt to incite others to overthrow the ruling Communist Party in China.
In her defense, Chow described the trial as a "very strange case," noting that the defendants do not dispute their actions or their sentiments expressed. She emphasized that "ending one-party rule" should be viewed as a request to end a situation where power is unlimited and unrestricted. A critical point raised in the trial is whether the national security law serves to ensure the Communist Party's perpetual rule while simultaneously stifling democratic aspirations among the populace.
Chow criticized the shifting standards of right and wrong in the context of the trial, stating, “Speaking the truth has become inciting hatred, seeking justice has become exploiting suffering, limiting power has become violating the constitution, and returning power to the people has become subverting the state.” She warned that if the court does not uphold its role in evaluating the implications of their statements, it risks complicity in the actions of those in power.
The prosecution countered by arguing that the rights to freedom of speech, assembly, and association are not absolute. They accused the defense of attempting to obscure the main issues of the case with appeals to human rights. Following the conclusion of arguments from both sides, Judge Lee indicated that while a specific verdict date cannot be confirmed, a decision is anticipated sometime between mid- and late July. Notably, the trial, initially slated for 75 days, has proceeded more quickly than expected, reaching its 24th day.
Albert Ho, another defendant in the case, entered a guilty plea at the trial's commencement in January, which may potentially result in a lighter sentence. The annual Tiananmen vigils in Hong Kong serve as a remembrance of the many victims who perished during the violent crackdown on pro-democracy protests in 1989 when soldiers deployed live ammunition against demonstrators. Although the vigil was initially cancelled in 2020 due to pandemic restrictions, the site was later repurposed for other events organized by pro-Beijing groups. Some individuals attempting to commemorate the anniversary of the crackdown on June 4 were reportedly detained.
