Story perspectives

Hong Kong Convicts Lee Cheuk-yan, Chow Hang-tung for Incitement

8/24/2026

Summary

Story summary

Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung were convicted of inciting subversion at West Kowloon Law Courts on August 21, 2026.
Each faces up to ten years in prison under Hong Kong’s National Security Law.
The UK, EU, France, Germany and Amnesty International condemned the convictions as rights violations.
Chief Executive John Lee said the alliance sowed hatred and threatened national security.
Since the law’s enactment, 415 people have been arrested and 185 convicted for national security crimes.

History

Historical Context

July 2003 saw Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa face a 500,000-person march that forced the withdrawal of the proposed Article 23 security bill, a protest occurring alongside the SARS epidemic and worldwide anti-war rallies. In August 2026, pro-democracy veterans Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung received ten-year subversion sentences under the 2020 National Security Law, underscoring a shift toward harsher enforcement.

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Story summary

Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung were convicted of inciting subversion at West Kowloon Law Courts on August 21, 2026.
Each faces up to ten years in prison under Hong Kong’s National Security Law.
The UK, EU, France, Germany and Amnesty International condemned the convictions as rights violations.
Chief Executive John Lee said the alliance sowed hatred and threatened national security.
Since the law’s enactment, 415 people have been arrested and 185 convicted for national security crimes.

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