Edmond Ng, Jessie Pang

HONG KONG, (Reuters) – Eight Hong Kong activists for democracy were sentenced Monday to up to 14 month imprisonment for organizing, participating in and encouraging participation in a prohibited vigil in support of victims of China’s 1989 Tiananmen square crackdown.

This former British colony has traditionally held the largest June 4, vigil around the globe. Police have refused to grant applications due to coronavirus restrictions.

Critics claimed authorities used pandemic restrictions in order to prevent the commemoration. That was rejected by the city government.

The sentencing is the latest blow to the city’s democracy movement, which has seen dozens of activists arrested, jailed or flee the Chinese-ruled territory since Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law last year.

Judge Amanda Woodcock stated that the defendants had “ignored, belittled and believed in a real public health crisis and wrongly and arrogantly believed they were commemorating June 4, rather than protecting and protecting the health and well-being of the community.”

Jimmy Lai, the media mogul and 74 year old, is in jail. Chow Hang Tung (36-year-old barrister) and Gwyneth, 31-year activist, received 13, 12 and 6 month sentences. Last Thursday, the court found them guilty.

These three were the most prominent of all the eight and had pleaded guilty not to any charges.

In a handwritten mitigation letter in prison before sentencing, Lai stated that “if commemorate(sic) the victims of injustice is an offense, then let me be guilty of that crime and let my punishment reflect this crime.

Chow stated in mitigation that “if those in power wanted to kill the movement through prosecution and imprisonment they will be very disappointed.” They have actually given life to the movement and rallied a new generation for this long fight for justice, truth, and democracy.

Lee Cheukyan, the leader of now disbanded vigil organiser Hong Kong Alliance for Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements, was among five others to plead guilty. He was sentenced between 4 and 14 months.

Lee, an emotional Lee who was sentenced to 14 months for the provocateur offense, said that “if there was one, it would be the regime which fired at its own people.”

“If I have to be in jail to confirm my will, it’s okay.”

All sentences will run concurrently with other sentencing cases.

16 other activists have already been sentenced to 4-10 month sentences for their involvement in the 2020 Vigil. Sunny Cheung and Nathan Law, two democracy activists, are facing the same charges for their participation in the 2020 vigil.

The global financial center has been ruled by Beijing since last year, following mass demonstrations calling for democratic reforms in Hong Kong. This law will have a profound impact on many aspects of daily life.

China has not provided an accurate account of the 1989 crackdown against protests that took place in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square.

Officials gave a death toll of around 300 on the following day, mostly soldiers. However, rights groups and witnesses claim that thousands more protesters were killed.