A Hong Kong court sentenced Lee Cheuk-yan to seven years and Chow Hang-tung to seven years and three months for inciting subversion. [1] Reuters filed both as leaders of the disbanded Hong Kong Alliance that organized Tiananmen vigils. [1] Albert Ho, who pleaded guilty, received five years and two months in the same wrap. [1] Print the years as filed. Do not flatten three people into one number.

The New York Times filed the same sentences and a fine on the Alliance. [2] Judges noted no violence in the case. A sentence is not a rewritten 1989. Print Friday's bench. Leave an appeal to the edition that owns an appeal.

Friday recap that treats two seven-year terms as the last civil liberty is a feed, not Reuters. Print Lee and Chow. Print Ho's guilty plea as a third term, not seven.

Seven-year terms for nonviolent activism mark the city's new normal. Judges noting no violence while sentencing harshly is the pattern. Friday's bench speaks the pattern fluently.

Friday's bench speaks the pattern; Lee and Chow take seven years. Ho's guilty plea is a third term, not seven. Appeals belong later.

Lee and Chow drew terms near seven years, with Ho shorter after pleading guilty. Times copy lined up with Reuters on years and the Alliance fine. Judges wrote that nobody used violence, which is not mercy. Appeals would need another day's paper.
Chow drew terms near seven years, with Ho shorter after pleading guilty. Appeals would need another day's paper. Nobody used violence, which is not mercy.

Friday's Hong Kong file is Chow near seven years, Ho shorter after pleading. Appeals wait on another day's paper. Nobody used violence, which is not mercy.

-- DAVID CHEN, Beijing