Defense lawyer argues Tiananmen vigil group's goals were slogans, not plans

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Defense counsel Erik Shum Sze-man argued at West Kowloon Court that the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China viewed its goal of ending one-party rule as an empty slogan rather than an actionable plan. The group’s former leaders, Lee Cheuk-yan, Albert Ho Chun-yan, and Chow Hang-tung, were accused of using annual vigils for the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown to incite public hatred toward the Chinese Communist Party. While Lee, 68, and Chow, 41, were convicted of inciting hatred, 74-year-old Ho previously entered a guilty plea. The defense maintained that the leaders were merely expressing beliefs in freedom and democracy rather than inciting the overthrow of the government.

Consequences

The mitigation hearing suggests that the court will now determine the sentencing for Lee, Ho, and Chow based on their convictions. The legal proceedings highlight the ongoing judicial consequences for individuals associated with the now-disbanded alliance.

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