Hong Kong activists sentenced to years for Tiananmen memorial vigils

In a recent court ruling, veteran activist Albert Ho, former legislator Lee Cheuk-yan and younger dissident Chow Hang-tung were each handed prison sentences between five and seven years for arranging non-violent vigils honoring the victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. The convictions were issued under Hong Kong’s Beijing-imposed national security law, which now bans any public remembrance that could portray the Communist Party negatively.

Prosecutors cited the gatherings as a threat to state security, while critics say the verdict exemplifies the erosion of Hong Kong’s freedoms. The three men have long been involved in democracy advocacy, and their imprisonment adds to a series of recent crackdowns, including harsh penalties for other activists and intensified rhetoric supporting Russian leader Vladimir Putin. The move also coincides with Beijing’s aggressive military posturing around Taiwan, underscoring a broader strategy of tightening control over dissenting voices.