Trial in Hong Kong: More democracy activists convicted

Democracy activists have again been sentenced to prison terms in Hong Kong. Nine people have been sent to jail for attending a vigil for the victims of the Tiananmen massacre.

A court in China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has sentenced a total of twelve activists – including leaders of the Hong Kong democracy movement such as Albert Ho and Figo Chan. Nine defendants were sentenced to between six and ten months in prison for violating the ban on assembly. Three other defendants got away with suspended sentences.

Some of the convicts are already in jail for participating in other unauthorized protests. Relatives and supporters of the accused gathered in front of the courthouse in the Wan Chai district. On banners they called for the release of all political prisoners.

Democracy movement is being put under pressure

Given the harsh sentences and political persecution, Hong Kong people will now be more cautious, said activist Chan Po-ying, wife of one of the convicts. “Nevertheless, they will continue to commemorate the victims of the June 4, 1989 massacre.”

Some well-known Hong Kong activists are already in jail for participating in the vigil last year. Further processes are to follow. The authorities have been making new allegations against the Hong Kong democracy movement for months.

Tiananmen Memorial Banned in 2020

For decades, Hong Kong was the only place in China where a public commemoration of the crackdown on the Chinese democracy movement was allowed. Last year, the authorities banned the traditional vigil for the first time – officially because of the corona pandemic. Yet on June 4, 2020, tens of thousands gathered to commemorate Victoria Park.

On the night of June 4, 1989, hundreds, perhaps even more than a thousand, were killed in Tiananmen Square in Beijing when the Chinese government used tanks and soldiers against demonstrators.