Hong Kong’s top court overturned the convictions of three former organizers of an annual vigil in remembrance of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, marking a rare victory for the city’s pro-democracy activists. The individuals, core members of the Hong Kong Alliance, were convicted in 2023 but have already served their terms. The Alliance disbanded in 2021 under a national security law imposed by China, prompting concerns about shrinking civil liberties.
The court ruled that the prosecution failed to prove that the Alliance was a foreign agent, due to redacted details and lack of evidence. Critics have raised concerns about the city’s judicial independence, especially after the introduction of the security law in 2020. Several non-permanent overseas judges have quit, questioning the confidence in the judicial system.
The annual vigil at Victoria Park, which commemorated the June 4 crackdown in Beijing, was banned in 2020, leading to clashes between pro-Beijing groups and those trying to commemorate the event. Three former Alliance leaders are also facing subversion charges under the security law.
In a separate ruling, jailed activist Tam Tak-chi’s bid to overturn his sedition convictions was dismissed. He was the first person tried under the colonial-era law since the 1997 handover. The law was repealed last year, but critics fear the new security law will further restrict freedoms in Hong Kong.
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