France, Germany 'deeply regret' Hong Kong conviction of Tiananmen activist Chow

France and Germany said Friday they "deeply regret" the conviction of Hong Kong activist Chow Hang-tung, who had organised annual vigils marking China's deadly Tiananmen crackdown, for inciting subversion.

"Peaceful advocacy for human rights does not constitute a crime," their foreign ministries said of Chow, recipient of the Franco-German Human Rights Award in 2023. She was convicted alongside fellow activist Lee Cheuk-yan.