Hong Kong organiser of Tiananmen Square vigil denied bail after being charged with incitement over illegal June 4 event
- Chow Hang-tung remanded in custody after appearance at West Kowloon Court
- The 36-year-old barrister faces maximum sentence of five years behind bars if found guilty
The vice-chairwoman of the organiser of Hong Kong’s annual June 4 Tiananmen Square candlelight vigil has been remanded in custody after being denied bail on Friday.
Chow Hang-tung, who was charged with inciting people to take part in the banned event this year, appeared at West Kowloon Court after being arrested on the day of the vigil last month.
The 36-year-old barrister, who is vice-chairwoman of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, faced one count of “incitement to knowingly take part in an unauthorised assembly”, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
Chow has been accused of committing the offence between May 29 and June 4.
Magistrate Veronica Heung Shuk-han adjourned the case until July 30 after denying Chow’s application for bail.
Asked about whether she understood the charge, Chow replied from the dock: “Commemorating June 4 is not a crime! I understand [the charge].”
Supporters inside the court shouted “add oil” – a Cantonese term of encouragement – when she appeared. Representatives from the alliance, including member Simon Leung Kam-wai, were also in court to show their support.
