In a bold demonstration of resistance, Chow Hang-tung, a prominent Hong Kong barrister and activist, is set to embark on a 36-hour hunger strike from prison on Wednesday, commemorating the somber 36th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown in Beijing.

The 39-year-old, who has been detained since September 2021 under the controversial national security law, announced her intentions through a heartfelt post on her Patreon account, stating her aim to honor June 4 while reaffirming her commitment to the cause.

This marks the third consecutive year that Chow has chosen to undertake a hunger strike while incarcerated to pay tribute to the Tiananmen victims. Last year, she began with a 34-hour strike, vowing to extend it by one hour each anniversary.

"We all have our own ways to remember that day," Chow declared in her post, emphasizing the significance of the date.

Once the vice chairperson of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, which organized Hong Kong's annual Tiananmen vigils, Chow now faces grave legal challenges. Alongside other leaders of her organization, she is charged with incitement to subversion and is scheduled to appear in court for a second pre-trial review on August 4, followed by her bid to quash her indictment on November 3, just a week ahead of a major trial set for November 11.

For three decades, the Alliance's candlelight vigils served as a poignant reminder of the victims of the Tiananmen massacre, where hundreds, possibly thousands, lost their lives as the People’s Liberation Army suppressed a wave of pro-democracy demonstrations.

However, following the imposition of national security laws in June 2020, these vigils were banned, and the Alliance disbanded a year later as its leadership faced legal repercussions.

In her recent post, Chow also celebrated a legal triumph in March, where Hong Kong's highest court overturned her prior conviction related to a national security police request. After serving four and a half months in prison, this ruling was hailed as a symbolic victory for justice.

Yet, Chow remained vocal about the injustices prevalent in the legal system, criticizing the government for aligning with what she termed as "false accusations" from the national security apparatus.

Chow's quest for justice extends beyond her own case; she has called on Secretary for Security Chris Tang to issue an apology, although she expressed skepticism about the likelihood of receiving one any time soon.

"History shows that apologies take time. The Tiananmen Mothers have waited 36 years without one but continue to seek accountability," she noted poignantly.

The backdrop of Chow's struggles reflects the increasingly harsh landscape for dissenters in Hong Kong, where the national security legislation enacted in 2020 gave authorities enhanced powers, leading to widespread arrests and a drastic reduction of civil liberties. The government maintains that this legislative framework has restored stability and peace, despite heavy international criticism.