What to know about the trial of former Tiananmen vigil organizers before a verdict
Summary
Two organizers of an annual Hong Kong vigil for the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown are facing a verdict after being charged under a national security law. The vigil was banned in 2020, and the trial highlights the limits on protest and remembrance in Hong Kong under Chinese rule.Key Facts
- Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung are on trial for organizing Tiananmen Square memorial vigils in Hong Kong.
- They were charged in 2021 with inciting subversion, which can lead to up to 10 years in prison.
- The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, now disbanded, organized yearly vigils attended by tens of thousands.
- The vigils commemorated the 1989 crackdown where Chinese troops killed many pro-democracy protesters in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square.
- The event has been banned since 2020, and the trial reflects tighter control on protests in Hong Kong.
- The national security law was imposed by Beijing and restricts freedoms promised when Hong Kong returned to China in 1997.
- The conviction decision is expected from three government-approved judges, with sentencing to follow if guilty.
- Authorities say their actions follow legal procedures and evidence.
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