Three activists involved in organizing Hong Kong's annual vigils to commemorate the 1989 Tiananmen Square incident are set to be sentenced this Friday for their convictions under Hong Kong's national security law, which was imposed by Beijing. The activists—Lee Cheuk-yan, Chow Hang-tung, and Albert Ho—face potential prison terms of up to 10 years after being found guilty earlier this year. Their case has drawn attention as a symbol of the shifting landscape of civil liberties in Hong Kong, where authorities have increasingly restricted dissent. The three were prominent members of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, a group that organized the annual vigils in Victoria Park for over 30 years. These vigils, which became a key expression of civil freedom in the region, were banned in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The activists were charged in September 2021 and have remained in custody for over two years. During their trial, their defense denied that the group sought to end the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party and argued that the alliance had never encouraged illegal actions. Lee Cheuk-yan, 69, who was the former chair of the alliance, testified that he had been in Hong Kong during the 1989 crackdown and was detained before being allowed to return. He denied any hostility toward the party, explaining that his push for reform was driven by a desire to improve the lives of the people. Albert Ho, 74, a former vice-chair of the alliance, was known as a moderate figure in politics and law. He also helped Edward Snowden during his time in Hong Kong in 2013. According to the prosecution, Ho had previously expressed support for ending one-party rule and advocating for a democratic China. Chow Hang-tung, 41, began attending the vigils as a child and later became a lawyer after studying natural sciences at the University of Cambridge. She was initially convicted in 2023 for refusing to cooperate with police investigations into the alliance's finances and operations, but her convictions were later overturned. The court ruled that the three activists had conspired to overthrow the Communist Party, citing their calls to "end one-party dictatorship." The judges claimed they had encouraged supporters to challenge the ruling party's leadership through illegal methods. Lee and Chow pleaded not guilty, while Ho entered a guilty plea, which may lead to a reduced sentence. The Chinese foreign ministry's Hong Kong office emphasized that the region is governed by the rule of law and that no one should use the idea of "freedom of speech and press" as an excuse for unlawful behavior. However, critics argue that the case reflects a broader trend of diminishing freedoms in Hong Kong. The sentencing of these activists is seen as a significant moment in the ongoing debate about the balance between national security and civil liberties in the city.