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The defunct Hong Kong stake association was accused of violating China's "Hong Kong National Security Law". Former chairman Li Zhuoren was sentenced to 7 years in prison, former vice-chairman Zou Xingtong was sentenced to 7 years and 3 months, and former vice-chairman Albert Ho was sentenced to 5 years and 2 months.
The stake association was sentenced to a fine of HK$1.5 million (US$190,000; RMB 1.28 million; NT$6.05 million), which must be paid within three months.
The sentencing took place on the morning of Friday (September 11), and the Hong Kong High Court found the defendant guilty of "inciting subversion of the state."
The stake association, whose full name is the "Hong Kong Federation of Citizens Supporting the Patriotic Democratic Movement," had been hosting commemorative events for the 1989 Tiananmen student movement crackdown in Beijing until it was banned by the Hong Kong government in 2020 due to the COVID-19 epidemic.
The three people were indicted as early as September 2021, and the stake association was disbanded at the end of the same month, ending its 32-year history.
According to Article 23 of the "Hong Kong National Security Law", the penalty for the crime of "inciting subversion of state power" is divided into two levels. "Serious circumstances" can be sentenced to more than 5 years to less than 10 years in prison; "minor circumstances" can be sentenced to less than five years in prison.
Sentencing
As in previous trials, Hong Kong's High Court used the West Kowloon Magistrates' Court to hold sentencing sessions on Friday. The court is scheduled to open at 10:00, and the case will be heard by three judges designated by the National Security Law, Li Yunteng, Chen Zhongheng and Li Wanji.
BBC Chinese reporters at the scene saw that the public seats in the main court were all full. Li Zhuoren's wife Deng Yan'e, Zou Xingtong's mother, former Stakeholder Standing Committee member Liu Jiayi and Cardinal Joseph Zen, the emeritus bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong, were all in attendance. Most of the other spectators wore masks. Barrister Shi Yongtai was also seen in court.
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Before the official sentencing, each defendant came to court one after another to hear the sentencing decision.
Albert Ho has dark skin, and his body shape and face are slimmer than before. He is wearing a gray shirt and dark gray jacket, wearing headphones, and has a serious expression. Lee Cheuk-yan, who had gray hair and wore a white jacket and a blue windbreaker, stood waving to the public gallery. He was later instructed by correctional officers to "sit down". He had been wearing glasses to read documents.
Zou Xingtong, wearing glasses, a ponytail, and a coat, sat in the corner of the prisoner's pen with three correctional officers standing beside her. It was difficult to see her from the public gallery. She stood up at one point during the court session and smiled at the gallery.
The court convened at 10:07. Judge Li Yunteng first said that the handling of the evidence of the Pillar of National Remembrance would be handled at another date, and pointed out that Zou Xingtong was not the owner, and if he wanted to participate in the hearing, he must make a separate written statement to explain.
Li Yunteng said that only the results would be read out in court, and the 19-page reason for the verdict would be uploaded later, and each person's prison term would be announced. He immediately left the court after reading the statement, and the whole procedure lasted about 7 minutes.
When the court was dismissed, Li Cheuk-yan made the sign of "the sign of the cross" and bowed to the public gallery. Zou Xingtong blew a kiss to the public gallery, waved to the lawyer, turned around and left with a smile while holding the documents.
BBC reporter intercepted by police outside court
According to Hong Kong media reports, as early as Wednesday (9th), nearly 70 people lined up outside the West Kowloon Court to listen. Many of them wore masks and brought cardboard boxes, floor mats, camping chairs, etc.
On the morning of Friday's sentencing day, BBC Chinese reporters saw the police cordoning off the court outside the court. People entering and exiting the queue were also required to register, and reporters were instructed to go to a place across the street for interviews.
Simon Ng, a retiree, had already arrived at the venue at 6:45 a.m. to queue up to listen. He said that he had participated in the June 4th candlelight vigil for decades, and the case was like "an accusation against me" and an accusation against every Hong Kong person who had participated in the vigil. He said that the Hong Kong government also supported the activities in the past, everything was legal and orderly, and he believed that the prisoners "were innocent for a day."
Ling is a friend of one of the defendants. She said that she sent postcards to the defendant during her travels, hoping that they could travel with him after he was released from prison.
She told BBC Chinese that the defendant in the stake association case had been remanded for a long time. When she attended the hearing in the past, she was optimistic and believed that the evidence in court was weak. Only clips of the press conference and candle lighting at the party were played. The judge also stopped the playback. It was estimated that it would be difficult to convict. However, when dealing with pleas last two weeks, the judge's tone changed and he kept questioning why the defense should be sentenced to a sentence of less than 5 years for "lesser circumstances". The sentence is expected to be unoptimistic.
Ling pointed out that in the past few decades, the Hong Kong police have cooperated with stake association activities in renting venues and assisting in traffic control. "Suddenly I tell you that it was illegal and you helped to do it. I don't know why it is not illegal?"
After the interview, Ling was intercepted by the police on his way to the court building and required to register his ID card. His backpack, computer protective case and water bottle were found. The BBC Chinese reporter was also intercepted and checked, but was later released.
The reporter asked the police officers present about the reason for the interception. One police officer said that he saw the reporter and the interviewee looking back, "I don't know if you were looking at the car or me, but I saw something fishy." Some police officers pointed at Ling and said they wanted to check the writing on the pendant of his backpack.
Handled plea two weeks ago
The case was originally scheduled to start trial in May 2025, but was eventually postponed to January 22, 2026; the original scheduled trial period was 75 days, and the final trial lasted 24 days. On August 21, the court was satisfied that the stake association's platform of "ending one-party dictatorship" violated the Chinese Constitution and ruled guilty; and on August 28, the court processed the plea.
Barrister Sim Shiman, representing Albert Ho and Lee Cheuk-yan, said in his plea that the stake association only promoted peaceful and non-violent propaganda and chanted slogans, but never had specific plans, guidelines, roadmaps or timetables. He described "ending one-party rule" as "an empty slogan". The judge is concerned about comparing this case with the 47-person primary election case, which one is more serious. Shen said that there was a "collusion" agreement in the case of the 47 people, that is, they would veto the budget without distinction after being elected. However, there was no road map in this case, and he described all the audiences as "cultivating themselves". He advocated that He and Li were involved in "less serious cases" and should be sentenced to less than 5 years in prison.
Shen also mentioned He Junren's health condition, saying that his cancer has stabilized after treatment and needs to continue taking medicine. He hopes the court will consider that He is already 75 years old.
Zou Xingtong made his own statement, emphasizing that he would not use the word "please" and reiterated that "you should not spend a day in jail." However, he was interrupted by the judge many times during his statement. The judge also pointed out that the charge was in the nature of "conspiracy" and reminded Zou Xingtong whether his statement would affect other defendants. Asked if he thought he was not wrong, Zou said "I don't think so." She pointed out that the verdict means that "the pursuit of democracy is guilty", and said that the case will spread the voice of Hong Kong people to "end the one-party dictatorship" to the world.
Regarding the sentencing of the Stake, the court stated that as a dissolved legal person, the Stake cannot be sentenced to prison but can only consider a fine. Senior counsel Lam Chi-ying, appointed by the Official Receiver's Office, will submit documents to explain the financial situation.
The prosecution also revealed on the same day that as of the sentencing date, Li Zhuoren and Zou Xingtong will have been remanded in custody for 1,442 and 1,418 days; Ho Junyan, who was granted bail for about 7 months, will have been remanded in custody for 1,301 days, after deducting the days served in another case.
Evidence dispute
On the day when the plea was processed, the court discussed the handling of exhibits.
