Hong Kong’s last outspoken democracy voice jailed, still writes on freedom from prison
Hong Kong barrister Chow Hang-tung, widely regarded as one of the city’s last outspoken democracy activists, was found guilty of incitement to subversion alongside co-defendant Lee Cheuk-yan and faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment. The verdict comes amidst Hong Kong’s twilight national-security trials, with Chow continuing to publish essays from prison on freedom, civil rights, and the Tiananmen vigil legacy—from debates over a Mickey Mouse-themed shirt to broader reflections on speech under Beijing’s security law. Chow’s case underscores the shrinking space for dissent even as she remains politically influential through writings and awards.