HONG KONG’S top court upheld the convictions of seven of the territory's most prominent 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, founding chairman of the city’s Democratic Party; and five former pro-democracy politicians were found guilty in 2021 of organising and participating in an unauthorised assembly.

Last year the activists partially won their appeal at a lower court, with their convictions for organising quashed. But their convictions for taking part were upheld, and they continued their legal battle at the city’s top court.