Hong Kong Pro-Democracy Activists Sentenced for 2019 Protests

MAE SOT, THAILAND - Several of Hong Kong's pro-democracy activists were again under the strain of the city's judicial system on Friday, after a court sentenced eight to prison for their role in protests two years ago. 

Ten pro-democracy activists, including Jimmy Lai, Lee Cheuk-Yan and Avery Ng, pleaded guilty last week for their involvement in organizing an unauthorized assembly on October 1, 2019. The street protests in Hong Kong — which took place while China's central government celebrated its 70th anniversary — attracted thousands and turned violent, with a teenage protester shot by police. Hundreds more were arrested.  Wan Chai District Court Judge Amanda Woodcock sentenced eight of the group — Avery Ng, Figo Chan, Cyd Ho, Albert Ho, Yeung Sum, Jimmy Lai, Lee Cheuk Yan and Leung Kwok-hung — to jail terms ranging from 14 to 18 months. The remaining two, Sin Chung and Richard Tsoi, were given suspended sentences. Six of the 10 had been remanded to custody since May 18 following their guilty pleas and had bail applications rejected.   The remaining four defendants, Lai, Lee, Leung and Cyd Ho, were already serving jail time because of other offenses, with Lai and Leung also facing charges under the national security law. Some of the new sentences for those already serving prison terms will be served concurrently.