Lee Cheuk-yan

Lee Cheuk-yan 李卓人

Age at arrest: 64

Former chair (2011-2014; 2019-2021), Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China and former chairperson (2011-2015), Labour Party

*Currently in jail

Lee Cheuk-yan is a founding member of the Labour Party and formerly served as the chairperson. Lee also took up leading roles in the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions and the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China. Lee was also a member of the Legislative Council from 1998 to 2016. Lee was charged with incitement to subversion on 9 September 2021. (Photo: VOA Cantonese)

Charges, incidents & sentences:

• Charge: Incitement to subversion

  Incident: The four defendants in this case – the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, former leaders of the group Lee Cheuk-yan, Albert Ho, and Chow Hang-tung – were charged with inciting others to organise, plan, carry out or participate in the implementation of acts aimed at subverting state power by illegal means from 1 July 2020 to 8 September 2021 in Hong Kong.

  Sentence: The trial started on 22 January 2026.

• Charge: Organising and participating in an unauthorised assembly

  Incident: Causeway Bay march on 18 August 2019

  Sentence: 12 months’ imprisonment (HKFP)

• Charge: Participating in an unauthorised assembly

  Incident: Chater Garden rally on 31 August 2019

  Sentence: 8 months’ imprisonment, to be served concurrently with the sentence for the 18 August march except for two months (BBC, CNN)

• Charge: Organising and inciting others to take part in an unauthorised assembly

  Incident: Hong Kong Island demonstration on 1 October 2019

  Sentence: 18 months’ imprisonment (HKFP)

• Charge: Organising, participating in and inciting others to take part in an unauthorised assembly

  Incident: Tiananmen Square massacre candlelight vigil on 4 June 2020

  Sentencing: 14 months’ imprisonment (Al Jazeera)