The Hong Kong Court of First Instance upheld pro-democracy activist Chow Hang-tung’s 15-month prison sentence on Wednesday and ruled that Chow will serve the remaining four and a half months of her sentence for inciting others to participate in an unauthorized assembly. Chow has been detained since September 2021 on National Security Law charges.

The West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts previously sentenced Chow on January 4, 2022 to 15 months prison over inciting others to participate in Hong Kong’s 2021 Tiananmen Square vigil. While the High Court quashed Chow’s conviction on December 14, 2022, the Court of Final Appeal overturned and reinstated Chow’s acquittal on January 25.

In rejecting Chow’s appeal, Judge Barnes agreed with Magistrate Amy Chan in sentencing Chow to 15 months in prison. While Chow previously argued that the police unlawfully interfered with her fundamental rights in prohibiting the vigil, Barnes found that such arguments were not reason enough to grant Chow a lighter sentence. Barnes also stated that Chow disregarded the law as she incited other to participate in the 2021 Tiananmen Square vigil while awaiting trial over charges in relation to the 2020 Tiananmen Square vigil. The 2020 vigil was also prohibited by the police due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chow organized the Tiananmen Square vigils when she was vice-chair of pro-democracy group Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China. Hong Kong authorities arrested Chow on September 8, 2021 after she refused to provide information on the group’s activities and finances. She was then charged with inciting subversion under the National Security Law. On September 10, 2021, the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court denied Chow’s bail request in stating that she breached the law by not submitting information requested by authorities.

Chow faces a maximum of life imprisonment if convicted under the National Security Law.