Three prominent Hong Kong activists—Lee Cheuk-yan, Chow Hang-tung, and Albert Ho—are awaiting sentencing this Friday following their convictions for inciting subversion. The charges stem from their roles as organizers of the city’s long-standing annual vigils, which were held to commemorate the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown in Beijing.

The case is being prosecuted under the national security law, a sweeping piece of legislation imposed on Hong Kong by Beijing in 2020. The activists were instrumental in leading the group that coordinated the vigils for years, events that were once a hallmark of Hong Kong’s civil society and its unique status within China. These vigils were eventually banned by local authorities, who cited public health concerns during the pandemic and later security considerations.

While the legal proceedings have moved forward under the framework of the national security law, the case has drawn international attention regarding the state of political expression in Hong Kong. The activists have maintained their roles as organizers of the memorial events, which the government now characterizes as activities that threaten national security. The sentencing marks a significant moment in the ongoing legal crackdown on pro-democracy figures in the territory. The court's decision will determine the length of their imprisonment, with the national security law allowing for severe penalties, including life sentences in certain cases. The activists' legal teams have previously argued that their actions were peaceful expressions of historical remembrance, while the prosecution maintains that their activities constituted a direct challenge to the state's authority.