A Hong Kong court has handed jail term sentences to three pro-democracy activists involved in annual vigils for victims of the Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989.

Chow Hang-tung and two others were given four and a half month terms on Saturday after being accused of failing to provide authorities with information on their now-defunct pro-democracy group.

Chow had been vice chairperson of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, which was forced to disband in 2021.

The court said the defendants violated the national security law for Hong Kong by failing to submit documents on members, operations and other details of their group to police. The court also said national security is important to public interests and the nation.

Chow made a statement before the sentencing, despite occasional interruptions by a judge. She said she and other activists will fight injustices wherever they must, "be it on the streets, in the courtroom or from a prison cell."

Chow and other former leaders of the group as well as the group itself have also been indicted on charges of inciting subversion of state power.

In addition to organizing the annual Tiananmen vigils, the group ran a museum devoted to materials related to the clampdown on pro-democracy protesters.

Authorities have banned the vigils and arrested senior members of the group. The moves are part of China's crackdown on pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong following their massive demonstrations in 2019.