Pro-democracy activists including from left Albert Ho, Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung at gathering to mourn Tiananmen massacre. Activists face sentencingHong Kong freedoms under pressureA Hong Kong court is set to sentence on Friday three activists who spent years organising public gatherings to remember the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre in China.Lee Cheuk-yan, Chow Hang-tung and Albert Ho were convicted earlier this year of inciting subversion under the national security law imposed by Beijing. They could each face up to 10 years in prison.The case is being closely watched because it tests how much space remains for dissent in Hong Kong, where authorities have sharply restricted public protests, elections and critical media since the 2019 unrest.The three defendants led the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China. Since the 2019 protest movement, however, the authorities have restricted political participation and prosecuted prominent activists and media figures.Several civil society groups have shut down, including the alliance behind the Tiananmen gatherings. In February, former pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 20 years in prison under the security law.Beijing says the legislation is needed to protect stability.
