Hong Kong, Jan 22 (LaPresse) – Two organizers of the Hong Kong vigil commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown pleaded not guilty, while a third pleaded guilty in a trial under the national security law. Chow Hang-tung, Lee Cheuk-yan, and Albert Ho, former leaders of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, were charged with incitement to subversion in September 2021 under the China-imposed national security law. Prosecutors argued that “ending one-party rule,” as long demanded by the group, violated the Chinese constitution. Lee and Chow pleaded not guilty, and the hearing will resume tomorrow for defense witnesses to testify. Both face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Ho pleaded guilty and was sentenced by Judge Alex Lee, who stated that the court will consider his request for a reduced sentence after the trial, which is expected to last 75 days.
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