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Hong Kong Court Rejects Chow Hang-tung Bid to Dismiss National Security Indictment Ahead of January Trial

The ruling moves a landmark case over alleged incitement to subvert state power toward a three-judge trial that could result in life sentences.

Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Chow Hang-tung is seen inside a vehicle after being detained in Hong Kong, China, September 8, 2021. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/File Photo
FILE - Chow Hang-tung, vice chairperson of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of the Democratic Patriotic Movements of China, poses after an interview in Hong Kong on May 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu, File)

Overview

  • High Court judges denied Chow Hang-tung’s application to quash the indictment and said their written reasons will be issued one day before the trial.
  • The trial is scheduled to begin on Jan. 22, 2026, with former Hong Kong Alliance leaders Chow Hang-tung, Lee Cheuk-yan and Albert Ho facing incitement to subversion charges.
  • Chow and Lee have indicated they will plead not guilty, while Ho has signaled he will plead guilty, and all three defendants remain in custody.
  • Prosecutor Ned Lai told the court that “unlawful means” includes actions aimed at ending Chinese Communist Party leadership that would violate China’s constitution.
  • Representing herself, Chow argued the indictment is impermissibly vague and risks a “catch-all” charge; the case follows the 2020 ban on Tiananmen vigils and the Alliance’s 2021 disbanding, after the trio’s 2023 non-cooperation convictions were overturned in March.