Hong Kong Court Dismisses Appeal by Tiananmen Vigil Leader

Hong Kong, Nov 3 (AP) – On Monday, a Hong Kong court dismissed a bid by Chow Hang-tung, a past Tiananmen vigil organiser, to overturn her indictment, moving forward with a pivotal case seen as part of a sustained crackdown on the city’s pro-democracy effort.

Chow Hang-tung, who was once a leader of the group that orchestrated the long-standing vigil to commemorate China’s 1989 pro-democracy protest crackdown in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, was indicted in 2021 for inciting subversion—a charge that could incur a penalty of up to ten years. She faces these charges along with the group's other former leaders, Albert Ho and Lee Cheuk-yan.

The charges emerged under a national security law enforced by Beijing in 2020, following significant anti-government protests in 2019. The trio are accused of inciting others to contest the Communist Party's leadership through unlawful methods.

Chow, a barrister representing herself, contended that the indictment was overbroad and unclear as authorities had not specified an unlawful method, potentially making it a “catch-all charge.” During the hearing, Judge Alex Lee remarked that while the charge was broad, it was not vague.

Prosecutor Ned Lai asserted that unlawful means referred to actions against the Chinese constitution, which dictates that party leadership is the principal element of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and damaging the socialist system is forbidden.

The three-judge panel, appointed by the government to handle the case, ruled against Chow. Lee announced that an opinion would be issued in January.

Chow appeared composed upon hearing the decision, smiling at the public gallery before exiting the courtroom.

The Tiananmen vigil, orchestrated by the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, had been the sole significant public remembrance of the 1989 crackdown in China for years until authorities prohibited it in 2020, citing anti-pandemic measures.

The group faced escalating pressure as police initiated an investigation, accusing it of foreign agent activity. The group denied the accusations and declined to cooperate. Subsequently, Chow, Ho, and Lee were charged with National Security Law violations.

In 2021, the alliance members voted for disbandment.

Chow and two other key group members were found guilty in 2023 for not providing authorities with information, receiving sentences of 4 1/2 months each. However, in March, the trio overturned their convictions at the city’s top court, representing a rare legal win for the city's pro-democracy activists.

The national security case trial is scheduled for January 22.

Following the lifting of pandemic-related gathering restrictions, the site of the previous vigils now hosts a carnival promoting Chinese food and products on the Tiananmen anniversary.

Fernando Cheung, spokesperson for Amnesty International Hong Kong Overseas, remarked that the court's decision showcased authorities "weaponising the overly broad concept of national security" to suppress freedom of expression without restraint. “Commemorating the Tiananmen crackdown should never have been prosecuted," he stated, calling for the release of those detained for what he terms as peacefully exercising their right to free expression.

The Hong Kong government maintains that the city’s security law has reinstated stability post-2019 protests. (AP) SKS SKS

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