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Jimmy Lai among 5 Hong Kong democracy activists jailed

Jimmy Lai among 5 Hong Kong democracy activists jailed

Supporters stand outside the West Kowloon court in Hong Kong on Apr 16, 2021, as Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai and other activists wait to receive sentencing after being found guilty of organising an unauthorised assembly on Aug 18, 2019. (Photo: AFP/Anthony Wallace)

HONG KONG: Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai was jailed for 14 months on Friday (Apr 16) along with four other veteran democracy activists for their roles in protests that helped trigger a sweeping crackdown on dissent by China.

Lai was given two jail terms for separate rallies in August 2019, at the peak of a democracy uprising that paralysed the financial hub for months.

The jail terms were the first ever for the 73-year-old millionaire, who has spent decades using his media empire to support democracy in Hong Kong, a campaign that has seen him denounced by China as a "traitor".

The sentences on Friday were the latest in a relentless and successful campaign by China since the protests to silence dissent.

Lai and four other campaigners were initially sentenced for leading a rally that organisers said attracted up to 1.7 million people.

READ: 'Stand tall': Hong Kong media tycoon Lai writes letter from jail

READ: Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai charged under national security law

Nine of Hong Kong's most prominent democracy campaigners had been found guilty of organising and participating in it.

Many of them have spent decades advocating non-violence in their campaign for universal suffrage.

Among the other defendants was Martin Lee, 82, a respected barrister known as the "father of democracy" in Hong Kong, who was once chosen by Beijing to help write the city's mini-Constitution.

Former lawmaker and barrister Martin Lee arrives at West Kowloon court in Hong Kong on Apr 16, 2021, to receive sentencing after being found guilty of organising an unauthorised assembly on Aug 18, 2019. (Photo: AFP/Anthony Wallace)

READ: Veteran Hong Kong democrats found guilty in landmark unlawful assembly case

They also included Margaret Ng, a 73-year-old barrister and former opposition lawmaker.

Lee and Ng were also given prison terms, but their sentences were suspended.

Jade Lai (in blue jacket), daughter of Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, enters the West Kowloon court on Apr 16, 2021, before the sentencing hearings of her father and other activists. (Photo: AFP/Anthony Wallace)

The rallies in 2019 often descended into clashes between riot police and a knot of hardcore participants, and posed the most concerted challenge to China's rule since the former British colony's 1997 handover.

Lai was handed his second jail term on Friday for participating in another rally in August that descended into chaos and violent clashes between protesters and police.

Although he was jailed for eight months for that offence, part of the term will be served concurrently with the earlier sentence. In total he will have to serve 14 months in jail.

China and the city government have successfully silenced the protest movement with a sweeping crackdown featuring a national security law that criminalises dissent.

They have also pressed a radical overhaul of the city's electoral system to ensure only "patriots" are members of the legislature.

READ: China-drafted electoral reform Bill introduced in Hong Kong

Organisers said around 1.7 million people - a quarter of Hong Kong's population - took part in the August 2019 protest. (Photo: AFP/Isaac Lawrence)

Amnesty International Asia-Pacific regional director Yamini Mishra said Friday's sentencing highlighted the government's determination to eliminate all opposition.

"Having arrested the majority of Hong Kong's most prominent dissidents using the repressive national security law, the authorities are now mopping up remaining peaceful critics under the pretext of bogus charges related to the 2019 protests," Mishra said.

Before delivering the sentences, judge Amanda Woodcock said the rally was "premeditated" to "circumvent" a police ban.

She also said the fact the rally was peaceful was no defence.

"The Basic Law guarantees freedom of assembly and procession however these rights are not absolute and are subject to restrictions," Woodcock said.

DEFIANCE

Supporters of the defendants rose and waved to the nine in court as they were taken away after the sentencing.

"Support you until the last," the supporters chanted.

Supporters wait to enter the West Kowloon court in Hong Kong on Apr 16, 2021, before the sentencing hearings of pro-democracy supporters who were found guilty of organising an unauthorised assembly on Aug 18, 2019. (Photo: AFP/Anthony Wallace)

In comments to the court before the sentencing, Ng maintained a defiant tone.

"There is no right so precious to the people of Hong Kong as the freedom of expression and the freedom of peaceful assembly," said Ng, who discharged her legal team and gave her statement in person.

She added that she was prepared to stand with and stand up for the people who "in the last resort, had to give collective expression of their anguish and urge the government to respond".

"I stand the law's good servant but the people's first," said Ng, whose submission ended with a round of loud applause in the courtroom.

"I'm ready for the sentencing and I'm proud that I can walk with the people of HK in this road for democracy," former lawmaker Lee Cheuk-yan said outside court ahead of the hearing.

"We'll walk together through the storm even in darkness."

Lee was sentenced to 14 months in jail for his participation in both rallies.

Source: Agencies/aj/dv

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