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.

Today, judges at the Court of Final Appeal unanimously ruled against their appeal over the remaining convictions.

The defendants quoted two non-binding decisions set out by Britain’s Supreme Court. But the judges ruled that the defendants’ proposition was “unsustainable” and “is contrary to all established principles governing constitutional challenges in Hong Kong.”