Lee Cheuk‑yan and Chow Hang‑tung, along with the now‑defunct Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, were found to have breached the National Security Law by repeatedly calling for an end to “one‑party dictatorship” between July 2020 and September 2021.
Former vice‑chairman of the alliance Albert Ho earlier pleaded guilty to the same charge.
In mitigation, the defence lawyer for Lee and Ho told a three-judge panel that what the defendants advocated did not involve violence, arguing for sentencing in the lower banding of five years or less.
High Court judge Alex Lee, for his part, said because Ho pleaded guilty after the committal proceedings, he would not be entitled to the full one‑third sentencing discount for a guilty plea.
Chow, who represented herself, said pursuing democracy is not a crime and did not express remorse.
Judge Alex Lee said the sentences will be handed down within two weeks, adding only a fine can be imposed for the now‑defunct alliance but that the court must consider its financial capability.
