大象传媒

In Hong Kong a group of prominent pro-democracy activists have been found guilty of unauthorised assembly, in a case relating to mass anti-government protests in August 2019. The group includes media tycoon Jimmy Lai, barrister Martin Lee and veteran activist Lee Cheuk Yan.

All seven had pleaded not guilty but now face time in prison.

The defence team said that freedom of assembly is protected under Hong Kong's constitution, and that authorities had approved a demonstration which then grew into the unauthorised march.

We spoke to Emily Lau, the former leader of the Democratic Party in Hong Kong who attended the court session.

(Photo: Pro-democracy activist and former lawmaker Lee Cheuk-yan hold placards outside the West Kowloon Magistrates Courts ahead of a hearing on April 1, 2021 in Hong Kong, China. Credit: Anthony Kwan/Getty Images)