2 organizers of Hong Kong's Tiananmen vigils convicted in national security case

HONG KONG — Two former organizers of Hong Kong’s annual vigils in remembrance of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown were convicted by government-approved judges Friday for inciting others to overthrow China's communist leadership.

Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung, former leaders of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, were charged with inciting subversion in 2021 under a China-imposed national security law that has effectively crushed the city’s previously thriving pro-democracy movement.

They face a maximum prison term of 10 years.

The alliance was also found guilty.

The three judges ruled that the alliance’s call to “end one-party dictatorship” did not aim to demand that the ruling Communist Party return to the system of multiparty cooperation under the constitution, but to end its leadership status under the constitution.

They said the “end” in the phrase carried the meaning of “overthrowing” and “undermining.” In the verdict, they wrote that the defendants persisted in the call after the law's introduction, neglecting