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A Hong Kong court has convicted four individuals of rioting related to the 2019 breach of the city’s legislative council building, an event that intensified the pro-democracy protests.

The District Court Judge, Li Chi-ho, ruled against Ho Chun-yin, actor Gregory Wong, Ng Chi-yung, and Lam Kam-kwan, while two student journalists were acquitted of rioting but found guilty of unlawful entry. This decision follows a tumultuous period sparked by opposition to a controversial extradition bill, leading to widespread unrest and a significant escalation of the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong.

The accused, among them prominent figures and activists, were implicated in the events of July 1, 2019, when protesters forcefully entered the legislative building, defacing portraits and symbols of authority. Gregory Wong argued in his defense that his presence was solely to assist journalists, a claim supported by video evidence. Another defendant, Lam Kam-kwan, alleged mistreatment and coercion by Chinese authorities after the incident, a claim contested by police testimony during the trial.

The convictions come amid broader repercussions for those involved in the 2019 protests, which initially targeted the extradition bill but expanded to demand greater democratic freedoms and police accountability. The aftermath has seen Beijing’s imposition of a stringent national security law, leading to the arrest or exile of numerous opposition figures.