Media mogul Jimmy Lai found guilty over 2019 mass protests

Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai and six former lawmakers have been found guilty of unauthorised assembly, in the latest blow to the city's pro-democracy movement. The defendants - including an 82-year-old - were convicted for their involvement in the mass 2019 protests. All seven had pleaded not guilty but now face time in prison.

After waves of pro-democracy protests, Beijing is increasingly adding pressure on the city's rights and freedoms. China had earlier this week passed sweeping changes to Hong Kong's electoral rules which will allow prospective MPs to first be vetted by a pro-Beijing committee.

Two other activists had earlier already pleaded guilty and face up to five years in jail. The sentencing for the group will be delivered at a later date. The seven are accused of participating in an unauthorised assembly on 12 and 18 August 2019, when Hong Kong was embroiled in months of anti-government protests.

They include Martin Lee, an 82-year-old barrister who is known as the "father of Hong Kong democracy", and Leung Kwok-hung, an activist known by his moniker "Long Hair". The defence team say 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.

The prosecution argued that freedom of assembly - while granted in the constitution - was not absolute in Hong Kong. During the handing down of the verdict on Thursday, a small group of supporters had gathered outside the court with banners calling the trial "Political Persecution".