Tiananmen vigil organizers' national security trial begins in Hong Kong.

A national security trial opened for three organizers of Hong Kong's annual Tiananmen vigil; one defendant pleaded guilty while two pleaded not guilty, and the trial is expected to last at least 75 days.

A national security trial of three organizers of Hong Kong's annual Tiananmen vigil began on Thursday. The vigil ran from 1990 to 2019 and had been viewed as a symbol of the city's relative freedoms. Authorities have charged the organizers with inciting subversion of state power and the trial is scheduled to run for at least 75 days. Key facts: - The organizers named in the case are Lee Cheuk-yan, Albert Ho and Chow Hang-tung; they were detained in September 2021 and have been in custody since then. - Albert Ho entered a guilty plea; Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung pleaded not guilty. - The lead prosecutor said the defendants conspired to end one-party rule, citing pre-2020 activities such as organizing the annual vigil and public criticism of Beijing as evidence. - The trial follows the high-profile prosecution of publisher Jimmy Lai and shares a judge designated for national security cases. Summary: Prosecutors argue the organizers' long-standing activities endangered national security, while rights groups have described the case as political. Two defendants pleaded not guilty and one pleaded guilty; the proceedings have been delayed for years and the trial is now underway. The courtroom process is expected to continue for at least 75 days and further legal steps will follow as the trial proceeds.