Chow Hang-tung and Lee Cheuk-yan, former leaders of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, have pleaded not guilty to charges of inciting subversion under the sweeping national security law imposed by China on Hong Kong in 2020.

The case centers on the alliance’s long-standing slogan calling for an end to one-party rule in China, which prosecutors argue amounted to encouraging unlawful efforts to overthrow the leadership of the ruling Communist Party.

Prosecutor Ned Lai told the court that freedoms of speech, assembly and association could not supersede national security legislation, accusing the defendants of attempting to frame the proceedings primarily as a human rights dispute.

“The freedoms of speech, association and assembly mentioned by D2 and D4 are not ‘trump cards’ that can override the law,” Lai said, referring to the defendants by their court identification numbers.

Defense lawyer Erik Shum, representing Lee, argued that prosecutors had failed to establish evidence showing what unlawful acts the alliance had allegedly urged residents to commit.

During earlier hearings, Lee rejected the prosecution’s interpretation of the slogan “ending one-party rule,” saying it referred to democratic reform rather than the removal of Communist Party leadership through illegal means. Chow, a barrister representing herself, argued that her writings were intended to encourage public understanding of democratic aspirations in mainland China rather than incite hatred or unlawful action.

A third defendant, veteran activist Albert Ho, pleaded guilty when proceedings opened in January, a move that could reduce his sentence if convicted.
The trial has become one of the most closely watched national security cases in Hong Kong since Beijing introduced the law following large-scale anti-government protests in 2019.

Critics, including international rights groups, say the legislation has sharply curtailed political dissent and civil liberties in the financial hub. Chinese and Hong Kong authorities maintain the law restored stability after months of unrest.

Amnesty International said the prosecution relied on “vague, overly broad and arbitrary definitions” of subversion and called for the charges against Chow and Lee to be dropped.

For decades, Hong Kong hosted the only large-scale public commemorations on Chinese soil marking the June 4 Tiananmen crackdown, drawing tens of thousands annually to candlelight vigils. Authorities banned the gatherings in 2020, citing pandemic restrictions, and the former vigil site has since hosted events organized by pro-Beijing groups.

The hearing is expected to continue into the afternoon, though judges have not indicated when a verdict may be delivered.

Curtis, speaking alongside fellow lawmakers including Jeanne Shaheen, said Taiwan should draw lessons from Hong Kong, where Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law in 2020 following unrest, a move critics say curtailed freedoms.

The visit comes as President Lai Ching-te seeks approval for an additional $40 billion in defence spending, a proposal backed by Washington but currently stalled in the opposition-controlled parliament.

Taiwan’s government says the funding is necessary to strengthen deterrence against China, which claims the island as its territory. Opposition parties have expressed support in principle for defence measures but have resisted approving what they describe as open-ended commitments.

Curtis said Taiwan risked misjudging Beijing’s intentions if it ignored the trajectory of Hong Kong since its return to Chinese rule in 1997 under a framework guaranteeing autonomy.“My biggest worry for Taiwan is that they underestimate the intentions of China,” Curtis said, urging vigilance despite aspirations for peace.

China has simultaneously stepped up engagement with Taiwan’s opposition. Beijing has invited Cheng Li-wun, leader of the Kuomintang, to visit, a trip she has described as a “peace mission.”

Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council said China’s objective of annexation had not changed and cautioned against what it called “illusions” about peace, reflecting ongoing tensions across the Taiwan Strait.

In a statement released late on Saturday, the ministry’s Hong Kong office said Commissioner Cui Jianchun met U.S. Consul General Julie Eadeh on March 27 and conveyed “strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition” to the alert, calling on the United States to stop intervening in Hong Kong matters “in any form.

”The dispute follows recent amendments to Hong Kong’s national security enforcement rules, which make it an offence in national security cases to refuse to provide passwords or other assistance to access electronic devices.

In response, the U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong issued a public alert on March 26 advising U.S. citizens to contact the consulate if they are arrested or detained in connection with the updated rules.

The alert highlighted concerns over the expanded scope of enforcement powers under the revised framework.The U.S. Consulate General did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside business hours.

The exchange underscores ongoing tensions between Beijing and Washington over Hong Kong’s governance and legal environment, particularly since the introduction of national security measures that foreign governments have said could affect civil liberties and legal protections.

Chinese authorities have consistently defended the measures as necessary to safeguard stability and national sovereignty, rejecting external criticism as unwarranted interference.

The measures expand enforcement powers under the Hong Kong national security law, introduced by Beijing in 2020 following large-scale pro-democracy protests in the financial hub.

The latest amendments mandate that individuals hand over “any password or other decryption method” needed for police to access electronic devices believed to contain evidence.

The rules apply not only to those under investigation for national security offences but also to individuals who own, possess, or are authorized to access the relevant devices, as well as anyone with knowledge of the required passwords or decryption tools.

Failure to comply constitutes a criminal offence, marking a shift from previous practice, where refusal to unlock devices was not treated as obstruction.The amendments were formulated under the direction of Chief Executive John Lee in coordination with the National Security Commission.

A government spokesperson said the measures aim to ensure that activities endangering national security can be “effectively prevented, suppressed and punished,” while safeguarding the lawful rights and interests of individuals and organizations.

Hong Kong has further strengthened its legal framework with an additional security law enacted in 2024, complementing the broader legislation imposed after the 2019 unrest.