"Hong Kong Alliance" (the Alliance) and its three leaders, Lee Cheuk-yan, Ho Chun-yan and Chow Hang-tung, have been charged with "incitement to subversion". They were sentenced at 10 am on Friday (Sept. 11) at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts, which is temporarily serving as the High Court.
The Alliance was fined HK$1.5 million, payable within three months. Lee was sentenced to seven years in prison, Ho to five years and two months, and Chow to seven years and three months.
Steve Li, Chief Superintendent of the Police National Security Department, told the media that Lee Cheuk-yan, Ho Chun-yan, and Chow Hang-tung were sentenced to 7 years, 5 years and 2 months, and 7 years and 3 months in prison respectively. The judge noted during sentencing that the case fell within the "serious" category. Under Article 23 of the Hong Kong National Security Law, the offence of subverting state power carries two tiers of penalties; if the circumstances are serious, the sentence can range from 5 to 10 years' imprisonment. The sentences handed down to the three show that their culpability is extremely serious. Chow Hang-tung showed no remorse and remained obstinate, so the highest sentence was to be expected.
Li stressed that this trial was conducted fairly, justly, openly, and transparently, just like all other ordinary criminal trials in Hong Kong.
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