Pastor and leaders of pro-democracy protests found guilty

Those convicted on Tuesday included pastor Chu Yiu-ming, law professor Benny Tai, and retired sociology professor Chan Kin-man.

Two current lawmakers, one former lawmaker, two student leaders and a political activist were also found guilty.

They were leaders of the “Occupy Central” campaign to demand the right of the semi-autonomous Chinese city’s population to choose its own leader.

“Hong Kong courts, by labelling peaceful protests in pursuit of rights as public nuisance, are sending a terrible message that will likely embolden the government to prosecute more peaceful activists, further chilling free expression in Hong Kong,” Maya Wang, senior China researcher at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement.

Prior to the verdict’s announcement, Mr Chan said he and the others had no regrets for their actions but were chiefly concerned with the movement’s legacy.

While the verdicts will have an impact on the individuals, “we are more concerned about how this movement will be recognised by the people of Hong Kong,” Mr Chan said.

Hong Kong’s biggest popular protest in recent years, also known as the Umbrella Movement, laid siege to government headquarters and paralysed the financial district for 79 days.

Thousands staked out encampments on major thoroughfares. Several hundred were arrested.

The movement fizzled without…