The national security trial of Hong Kong’s now-defunct Tiananmen vigil group has been adjourned to May after the defence called its last witness to the stand. Chow Hang-tung, barrister and an ex-leader of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, poses during a photo session in Hong Kong on March 21, 2021. Photo: Peter Parks/AFP. Chow Hang-tung, a barrister and a former leader of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, continued representing herself in her case at the West Kowloon Law Courts Building on Tuesday.
She is one of three defendants – along with activists Lee Cheuk-yan and Albert Ho – charged with inciting subversion. She and Lee pleaded not guilty, while Ho pleaded guilty.
Chow called Kwan Chun-pong, a former standing committee member and volunteer of the Alliance, to testify as a defence witness.
Kwan, 54, told the court he works at a supply chain company. He said he began volunteering for the Alliance in December 1989, and was part of the group’s standing committee from 1998 to 2014.
Addressing the court, he recalled feeling touched by Hongkongers braving a typhoon 8 signal in May 1989 to march for the students. The same month, he said he attended a protest and witnessed the establishment of the Alliance when an activist announced the formation of the new group at Happy Valley Racecourse, where the march ended. Activist Kwan Chun-pong leaving the West Kowloon Law Courts Building on March 31, 2026. Photo: Hillary Leung/HKFP. While Kwan was testifying, the judges interrupted him a number of times, saying he was going into too much detail, as they questioned Chow as to how his testimony related to the case. Judge Alex Lee also asked him to bring his evidence to “more recent” times, adding that he was recalling things from 30 years ago.
“The court will not allow you to make political statements,” Lee told Chow in Cantonese. Chow replied that she was not doing so.
When Chow referred to the crackdown as the “June 4 massacre,” Lee told her this was not accurate.
“If you use phrases like this, I will need to consider whether to allow you to continue asking questions,” he said, correcting the phrase to “June 4 incident.” A man walks past barriers set up outside the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts in Hong Kong, on September 19, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. Lee then told Kwan to leave the courtroom so he could ask Chow what else she planned to question Kwan about, and the relevance of his testimony to the case.
Chow said that – since Kwan had long-time involvement with the Alliance – he could testify about how the way the group operated remained the same over the decades.
Lee then said he needed to discuss with the other two judges as to whether to allow Chow to continue questioning Kwan. After a five-minute court break, Lee said the court had decided that she would only be able to ask him questions about matters from 2018 onwards.
Candlelight vigils
When court resumed, Kwan said that in 2018 and 2019, he attended the candlelight vigils in Victoria Park as a volunteer marshal. He said he and other marshals helped to maintain order in the park and also distributed candles and event pamphlets. The Tiananmen vigil in Victoria Park on June 4, 2019. File photo: Holmes Chan/HKFP. Kwan added that, while police were also present in Victoria Park during the vigils, their work was largely outside the park, where they oversaw crowd control.
He said that, during those two vigils, the Alliance did not have any issues with police.
Chow also asked Kwan how he understood the Alliance’s political platform, which consists of five points – including releasing detained activists, demanding accountability for the crackdown and ending one-party rule in China.
Kwan said he thought of the five points as “interconnected,” like the Olympic rings.
After Chow finished her questioning, government prosecutor Ivan Cheung cross-examined him. Chow Hang-tung. Photo: Candice Chau/HKFP. Cheung asked him about his involvement with the Alliance after the 2019 vigil. He said he attend some of the group’s other events that year, and was also present at the meeting in 2021 in which representatives voted to disband.
Closing submissions
The judges had initially set aside 75 days for the national security trial, but the proceedings moved at a faster pace than expected. Tuesday marked the 22nd day of the trial.
Kwan was Chow’s third and final witness. On Monday, Chow called a former journalist who witnessed the Tiananmen crackdown, as well as an elderly woman who attended the vigils almost every year, to testify.
Co-defendant Lee Cheuk-yan’s lawyer finished presenting the activist’s arguments earlier this month.
Judge Lee adjourned the case to May 18 for the prosecution and the defence to present their closing submissions.
Chow, Lee Cheuk-yan and Ho face up to 10 years in prison if convicted of inciting subversion. In June 2020 , Beijing inserted national security legislation directly into Hong Kong’s mini-constitution – bypassing the local legislature – following a year of pro-democracy protests and unrest. While activists say the law has stifled civil society groups, the authorities maintain it has restored stability and peace to the city.