Lee Cheuk-yan, 69, and Chow Hang-tung, 41, were sentenced on 11 September 2026 to seven years and seven years three months in prison after conviction under Hong Kong's national security law for inciting subversion. Albert Ho, 74, who pleaded guilty, received five years. The United Nations human rights office called for the sentences to be quashed. This article sets out the convictions, the court outcomes, reactions from families and rights groups, and the background to the banned Tiananmen vigils.
Why were the three activists convicted?
Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung were found guilty last month of inciting others to subvert state power under the national security law. Albert Ho pleaded guilty in January. The court ruled that the defendants had incited others to organise, plan or participate in unlawful acts aimed at subverting state power, citing the Hong Kong Alliance slogan calling for an end to one-party dictatorship. The court summary stated that Lee and Chow had incited other persons to organise, plan, commit or participate in acts by unlawful means with a view to subverting the state power. Chow told the court in May that the law itself was on trial. A key part of the trial concerned the group's slogan of ending one-party dictatorship, which the court said had incited people to undermine the Chinese Communist Party. The defendants were leaders of the now-disbanded Hong Kong Alliance. The group was founded in May 1989 to support students holding pro-democracy rallies. Weeks later the Chinese Communist Party sent troops and tanks to crush pro-democracy protests in Beijing's Tiananmen Square. Estimates of the death toll range from a few hundred to many thousands. Over the next three decades the Hong Kong Alliance called on authorities to accept responsibility for the crackdown, free dissidents and introduce democratic reform. The group also held yearly vigils commemorating the Tiananmen Square crackdown. Organisers said some of the gatherings attracted more than 100,000 people, though police had lower estimates of the turnout.
What sentences were handed down on 11 September 2026?
The court imposed seven years on Lee Cheuk-yan, seven years and three months on Chow Hang-tung and five years on Albert Ho. The Hong Kong Alliance was also fined HK$1.5 million. Lee and Chow had faced a maximum of ten years after conviction. Ho received a lower term because he entered a guilty plea. As the court session started Chow and Lee stood up and smiled at the public gallery which was full of people. Ho wore a serious expression. After their sentences were handed down Lee appeared to pray as he was led out of the dock while Chow blew a kiss to those seated in the public gallery. The Hong Kong Alliance faced the fine of HK$1.5 million in addition to the prison terms handed to its former leaders. The court also noted that the defendants faced up to ten years in prison after their conviction.
How did the defendants and their families respond?
Chow and Lee smiled at supporters in the public gallery at the start of the hearing. After sentencing Lee appeared to pray as he was led away while Chow blew a kiss to the gallery. Lee's wife Elizabeth Tang described the outcome as a sad day and said she could not accept that her husband would spend another three years in jail. She stated that Lee intends to appeal. Chow's mother Medina told supporters outside the court not to lose heart or feel guilty. Speaking to the BBC before her arrest in 2022 Chow said she was prepared to be arrested and willing to pay the price for fighting for democracy. Elizabeth Tang told Reuters that it was a sad day for her and added that she could not imagine that he has to spend another three years in jail. Medina told a crowd outside the court not to be overly saddened about the verdict and above all not to feel guilty. Reuters reported the comments from both family members.
What did international organisations say?
The office of UN human rights chief Volker Türk called for the sentences to be quashed. Amnesty International's Deputy Regional Director Sarah Brooks described the sentencing as a triple tragedy for the activists the survivors of the 1989 crackdown and Hongkongers denied space to discuss the events. Human Rights Watch stated that the harsh sentences expose the cruelty and insecurity of a government afraid of memory. The UN human rights office said these sentences should be quashed. Amnesty International said this sentencing is a triple tragedy for the activists being unjustly punished the survivors and victims of the Tiananmen crackdown itself and the generations of Hongkongers denied the space to discuss one of the most consequential events in modern Chinese history. Human Rights Watch said the harsh sentences against peaceful Tiananmen vigil organisers expose the cruelty and insecurity of a government afraid of memory and the people.
What is the background to the Hong Kong Alliance and the vigils?
The now-disbanded Hong Kong Alliance was founded in May 1989 to support pro-democracy rallies in Beijing. After the crackdown in Tiananmen Square it organised annual vigils in Hong Kong some of which drew more than 100,000 participants according to organisers. The gatherings were banned in 2020 citing Covid-19 measures and did not resume. The national security law came into force the same year. Chow had previously told the BBC she was prepared to be arrested for fighting for democracy. Hong Kong and Macau were for years the only places on Chinese soil where people could hold gatherings to mark the Tiananmen crackdown a highly sensitive and heavily censored topic in mainland China. These gatherings were banned by Hong Kong's authorities in 2020 citing Covid-19 policies but never resumed. That same year the national security law which makes illegal a wider range of dissenting acts officially came into force. Authorities say the law is necessary to maintain stability but critics argue it has eroded Hong Kong's autonomy and created a climate of fear. The defendants were charged in 2021. They faced up to 10 years in prison after their conviction.
Frequently asked questions
What was the charge against the activists?
They were convicted of inciting others to subvert state power under the national security law for their role in organising Tiananmen vigils and using the slogan calling for an end to one-party dictatorship.
When were the sentences delivered?
The sentences were handed down on Friday 11 September 2026 at the Hong Kong court.
Did Albert Ho plead guilty?
Yes Albert Ho pleaded guilty in January 2026 and therefore received a five-year term rather than the longer sentences given to Lee and Chow.
What did the court say about the Alliance slogan?
The court held that the slogan ending one-party dictatorship incited people to undermine the Chinese Communist Party and therefore amounted to subversion.
Was a fine also imposed?
Yes the court ordered the Hong Kong Alliance to pay a fine of HK$1.5 million in addition to the prison terms.
Key takeaways
- Lee Cheuk-yan received seven years in prison for inciting subversion.
- Chow Hang-tung received seven years and three months.
- Albert Ho received five years after pleading guilty.
- The Hong Kong Alliance was fined HK$1.5 million.
- The UN human rights office called for the sentences to be quashed.
Outlook
The case closes the chapter on the annual Tiananmen vigils that had been held in Hong Kong for three decades. Appeals by Lee and possibly others remain possible while rights groups continue to call for the convictions to be overturned. The national security law remains in force and continues to shape the boundaries of public commemoration in the city.