Three Hong Kong activists sentenced to up to seven years under national security law

Three pro‑democracy activists in Hong Kong have been formally charged under the city’s national security law for organizing the annual remembrance of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown. The charges, announced by the Hong Kong Department of Justice, allege that the activists “incited secession” and “colluded with foreign forces” by holding public vigils that commemorate the dead and call for democratic reforms, actions the authorities say breach the Beijing‑backed legislation enacted in 2020.

The case marks the latest application of the national security law to curb dissent linked to the Tiananmen anniversary, which has been increasingly restricted since the law’s passage. Human‑rights groups have warned that the prosecutions could further erode the limited freedoms previously enjoyed in Hong Kong’s public sphere. The three defendants face possible imprisonment if convicted, and their trial is expected to proceed under the special procedures established for national security cases.