Hong Kong Court Upholds Indictment Against Tiananmen Vigil Organizer

A Hong Kong court has upheld the indictment of former Tiananmen vigil organizer Chow Hang-tung, marking a significant development in the ongoing crackdown on the city’s pro-democracy movement. On Monday, the court rejected her attempt to quash charges of inciting subversion under the controversial National Security Law, which was introduced by Beijing in 2020. Chow, along with former leaders Albert Ho and Lee Cheuk-yan, faces potential life imprisonment if convicted.

Chow was charged in 2021 in connection with her role in organizing a vigil to commemorate the 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. The vigil, held annually for decades, became the only large-scale public remembrance of that event in Hong Kong until it was banned in 2020, under the pretext of enforcing anti-pandemic measures. The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, which organized the event, has faced increasing scrutiny and pressure from authorities in recent years.

During the court proceedings, Chow, a barrister representing herself, argued that the indictment was vague and did not specify what constituted “unlawful means.” She described the charge as a potential “catch-all” that could encompass a wide range of actions. In response, prosecutor Ned Lai asserted that “unlawful means” refers to actions that violate the Chinese constitution, specifically those that threaten the Communist Party’s leadership and the socialist system.

The three-judge panel overseeing the case, appointed by the government, sided with the prosecution. Judge Alex Lee indicated that a formal opinion on the case would be released in January 2024. Following the decision, Chow maintained her composure and smiled at supporters in the public gallery before exiting the courtroom.

The Hong Kong Alliance, under investigation for alleged connections to overseas pro-democracy groups, disbanded in 2021 following the increasing legal pressures. Chow, Ho, and Lee were convicted in 2023 for failing to provide requested information to authorities, receiving sentences of four and a half months each. However, in March 2024, the trio successfully overturned their convictions in the city’s top court, representing a rare legal win for pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong.

As the trial under the National Security Law approaches, scheduled for January 22, 2024, the landscape surrounding the vigil has changed dramatically. Since the lifting of pandemic-era gathering restrictions, the site where the vigil was traditionally held has been transformed into a carnival celebrating Chinese food and products on the anniversary of the Tiananmen incident.

This case underscores the ongoing tensions between Hong Kong’s pro-democracy activists and the Chinese government, as the city grapples with the implications of the National Security Law and its impact on civil liberties.