Hong Kong's Tiananmen activists sentenced to up to seven years in prison

Key Points:

• Three Hong Kong activists, including Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung, have been sentenced to prison terms of up to seven years for organizing annual vigils commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, under the national security law.
• Lee and Chow were convicted of inciting others to subvert state power, with the court citing their slogan "ending one-party dictatorship" as incitement against the Chinese Communist Party.
• The Hong Kong Alliance, which the activists led, was a pro-democracy group that held large annual vigils for decades, but these gatherings were banned in 2020 amid Covid-19 restrictions and the imposition of the national security law.
• Critics argue the national security law has eroded Hong Kong's autonomy and suppressed dissent, while authorities maintain it is necessary for stability.
• The activists expressed resolve and calm during sentencing, with family members vowing to appeal and urging supporters not to lose heart despite the harsh verdicts.