Hong Kong court sentences pro-democracy activists who led the Tiananmen Memorial rally to 5 to 7 years in prison

(Beijing = Yonhap News) Correspondent Jong-gu Han = A Hong Kong court sentenced three Hong Kong pro-democracy activists to 5 to 7 years in prison for leading a candlelight vigil to commemorate the victims of the Tiananmen pro-democracy protests.

According to the Hong Kong Times on the 11th, Hong Kong's West Kowloon Court sentenced Lee Cheok-yan and Chau Hang-tung, members of the Hong Kong Citizens' Support Patriotic Democratic Movement Alliance (Jilianhoe), to 7 years and 7 years and 3 months in prison, respectively, who were indicted on charges of inciting the overthrow of the national government under the Hong Kong National Security Act.

Another activist, Albert Ho, was sentenced to five years and two months in prison.

Lee Cheok-yan and Chau Hang-tung pleaded not guilty during the trial, but Albert Ho reportedly pleaded guilty in exchange for a reduced sentence.

The court judged that slogans such as ‘End one-party dictatorship’ raised by Jiryeonhoe during its activities constituted an act of inciting the overthrow of the national government.

The defense argued that their activities fell under freedom of expression and assembly, but the court did not accept it.

Hong Kong media reported that about 100 people, including Cardinal Chen Lejun, bishop emeritus of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong, appeared in the courtroom and watched the sentencing process.

Jilianhoe is a representative democracy group in Hong Kong that was formed in 1989 to support the Tiananmen pro-democracy protests.

Since 1990, a large-scale candlelight vigil has been held every year on the evening of June 4 at Hong Kong's Victoria Park to commemorate the victims of the Tiananmen democracy protests.

Given that public commemoration events for the Tiananmen Square protests are not permitted in mainland China, this candlelight vigil was evaluated as an event symbolizing Hong Kong's political freedom under 'one country, two systems'.

However, Hong Kong police banned candlelight vigils in 2020 due to the spread of COVID-19 and public health risks, and later, with the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law, the investigation into the Association and its leadership began in earnest.

Li Cheok-yan and others were indicted on charges of inciting the overthrow of the national regime in 2021, and Jiryeonhoe voluntarily disbanded in September of the same year due to continued pressure from the authorities.

The Chinese government responded to criticism from some in the West regarding today's sentencing, telling it not to interfere in Hong Kong's judicial affairs.

Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a regular briefing that day, "China has already expressed its strict position regarding the Jilianhoe incident. Hong Kong is a society ruled by law, and the central government firmly supports the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in protecting national security in accordance with the law and cracking down on acts that harm national security."

He continued, "The parties involved must substantially respect China's sovereignty and Hong Kong's legal system," and "They must stop making irresponsible remarks about the hearing of judicial cases in Hong Kong and stop interfering in Hong Kong's judiciary and China's internal affairs in any form."