The movement fizzled without winning concessions from the Hong Kong government for free elections and the pro-democracy movement has struggled to retain a high-profile in recent years. Ranging from the age of 30 to 70 , the nine defendants span generations of Hong Kong citizens who have been agitating for full democracy. But Hong Kong judges have since faced mounting pressure from Beijing to hand down heavier sentences to deter future protests. The Hong Kong government last year banned a local political party that advocated the territory's independence from Beijing. Man-kei Tam, director of Amnesty International Hong Kong, called the verdicts a "crushing blow for freedom of expression and peaceful protest in Hong Kong."

Source: The Telegraph April 09, 2019 06:00 UTC