The activists have been identified as Lee Cheuk-yan, 69, and Chow Hang-tung, 41.
Today, a Hong Kong court found Chow Hang-tung and Lee Cheuk-yan, co-leaders of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China (HKA), guilty of subversion for commemorating the Tiananmen Square massacre.
— The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation (@thecfhk) August 21, 2026
After a 22-day trial, which wrapped in May,… pic.twitter.com/kBqjGx7AAF
They face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison following their convictions under the national security law introduced by China. The date for sentencing has not yet been announced.
According to a summary of the verdict quoted by the BBC, Lee and Chow were found guilty of having "incited other persons to organise, plan, commit or participate in acts by unlawful means with a view to subverting the state power."
A third defendant, Albert Ho, 74, was found guilty in January in the same case.
Germany & France regret the guilty verdict against human rights & democracy activist Chow Hang-tung in Hongkong today. Chow recieved the Franco-German Prize for Human Rights & the Rule of Law in 2023. We call for her immediate release. Full statement here: https://t.co/VsPXoKMM6s
— GermanForeignOffice (@GermanyDiplo) August 21, 2026
For decades, Hong Kong was the only place in China where people were permitted to publicly gather to commemorate the deadly 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in and around Beijing's Tiananmen Square.
However, authorities banned the annual vigils in 2020, initially citing coronavirus-related restrictions. The gatherings have not been permitted since.
The Hong Kong High Court today convicted activists Chow Hang-tung & Lee Cheuk-yan of “inciting subversion” under the National Security Law. @hrw presser is coming but for now... see below 👇 pic.twitter.com/D2Kzj3bm7k
— Elaine Pearson (@PearsonElaine) August 21, 2026
Reacting to the convictions, Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said the verdicts demonstrated how "public displays of mourning have become a crime in Hong Kong."