Hong Kong’s top court upholds convictions of 7 prominent pro-democracy activists over 2019 protest

Associated Press

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong’s top court on Monday upheld the convictions of seven of Hong Kong’s most prominent pro-democracy activists over their roles in one of the biggest anti-government protests in 2019.  Jimmy Lai, founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper; Martin Lee, the founding chairman of the city’s Democratic Party; and five former pro-democracy lawmakers were found guilty in 2021 of participating in an unauthorized assembly. Their convictions dealt a blow to the city’s flagging pro-democracy movement during a political crackdown on dissidents following the 2019 protests. On Monday, the top court ruled against their appeal.