Chief Executive John Lee said the sentencing of three former leaders of the group behind the June 4th vigils on Friday showed that anyone who intends to incite subversion and endanger national security will be punished in accordance with the law.

Three former leaders of the now‑defunct Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China – Albert Ho, Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang‑tung – received prison terms ranging from five years and two months to seven years and three months, and the group was fined HK$1.5 million.

In a statement, the chief executive said the law never allows anyone to openly harm one's own country and compatriots by employing confounding tactics under the pretext of human rights, democracy and freedom.

He noted that the court pointed out that what the defendants did in this case had gone beyond the scope of lawful freedom of expression, and constituted acts of inciting others to subvert state power by unlawful means.

The CE added that the sentences demonstrated the court's confirmation that the offences committed by the defendants were extremely serious and warranted severe punishment to uphold the rule of law.

"The court has pointed out clearly in its reasons for the verdict of conviction handed down earlier that the very aim of the Alliance's agendas was to overthrow and undermine the leadership by the Communist Party of China (CPC) under the Constitution," he said.

"The defendants intended to cause others to lose confidence in the CPC by stirring up hostility and causing division, so as to achieve the objective of undermining the fundamental system of the People's Republic of China (PRC).

"After the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law, the defendants refused to pull back from the brink and were bent on acting wilfully, attempting to make use of the Alliance to subvert state power."

A government spokesman, meanwhile, dismissed "malicious attacks and smears" on this and other cases by various western countries and anti-China organisations, among others, adding the defendants in this case were put on trial not because of their political beliefs and they received a fair trial.


Edited by Edmond Fong