Two prominent activists in Hong Kong have been found guilty of inciting subversion in connection with their roles in organizing annual vigils commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown in mainland China. The verdict marks a significant development under the national security law that Beijing imposed on Hong Kong in 2020, which criminalizes acts deemed to threaten state power.

Lee Cheuk-yan, 69, and Chow Hang-tung, 41, were convicted of encouraging others to organize, plan, or participate in activities through unlawful means aimed at undermining the authority of the state. According to a police-issued press summary, both defendants face up to 10 years in prison. The court is expected to determine the sentences at a later date.

The trial, which commenced in January and spanned 24 days, formed one of the most high-profile cases linked to the national security law. A third defendant in the case, Albert Ho, a 74-year-old former legislator, pleaded guilty earlier this year.

The annual Tiananmen vigil, long regarded as a symbol of remembrance and resistance, has been banned in Hong Kong since 2020 following the national security legislation, a move that has significantly curtailed public commemorations and political dissent. The conviction of Lee and Chow underscores the authorities’ increasing scrutiny of pro-democracy activism and the broader clampdown on freedoms in the city.

This case draws renewed attention to the shrinking space for civil society in Hong Kong, where activists have faced intensified legal action and restrictions since the imposition of mainland China’s security framework. Supporters of the activists argue that their efforts were peaceful and centered on remembrance, while authorities maintain that their actions threatened state stability. The verdict represents a critical moment in the ongoing tensions between Hong Kong’s pro-democracy advocates and the government’s enforcement of national security provisions.