A Hong Kong court has convicted seven former pro-democracy lawmakers for organizing an unauthorized rally over a protest in August in Hong Kong.
The seven are people who have been involved in the democratization movement for many years, including a heavyweight who was called the "father of democratization in Hong Kong," and it is expected that criticism will be gathered from inside and outside Hong Kong for the court's decision.
Seven people, including former member of the legislative council of Hong Kong, Martin Lee, and the founder of a newspaper critical of the Chinese government, Jimmy Lai, have not been involved in protests in central Hong Kong in August. He is accused of organizing a permit rally.
Of these, 82-year-old Lee is the founder of a democratic party and a major figure called "the father of democracy in Hong Kong."
A Hong Kong court found seven people guilty on the 1st and granted bail to five people, except two, including Mr. Rei, who was detained for another crime.
In this case, two people, including Mr. Au Nok-hin, who was studying abroad at the University of Tokyo graduate school, were also charged with the same crime and pleaded guilty, and the sentence of nine people including Mr. Ward will be tried again on the 16th of this month.
Many supporters gathered in the court early in the morning and said, "The demonstration is not guilty."
Before the trial, one of the defendants, representative of the democratic group Lee Takuto, complained, "It may be hard to see the reversion of freedom and democracy, but let's believe that we will win in the end." I did.
Most of Hong Kong's pro-democracy is already in detention, and it is inevitable that the activity will be further reduced by the conviction of seven more people this time, and criticism from inside and outside Hong Kong is expected. Will be done.