Hong Kong Court Sentences Three Tiananmen Vigil Organizers to Prison

In a landmark ruling that underscores Beijing’s tightening grip on dissent, Hong Kong’s Court of First Instance sentenced three activists—Lee Chi‑wing, Chan Mei‑ling, and Ho Kai‑yuen—to between 12 and 24 months in prison for “inciting secession” after they organized the annual Tiananmen Square vigil in 2023. The defendants were convicted under the National Security Law, which criminalises any commemoration of the 1989 crackdown. International human‑rights groups condemned the verdict, calling it a “blatant violation of freedom of assembly and expression.” The Hong Kong government defended the decision, stating that the vigil posed a “threat to national security.” Appeals are expected to be filed within the statutory 14‑day period.