Asia

Hong Kong protest organizers free on bail before sentencing

Associated Press
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Occupy Central leaders, from left, Shiu Ka-chun, Chan Kin-man, Chu Yiu-ming, Benny Tai and Tanya Chan shout slogans before entering a court in Hong Kong, Wednesday, April 10, 2019. Nine pro-democracy activists returned to court Wednesday in Hong Kong to await their verdicts after having been found guilty of various offenses in relation to the 2014 "Occupy Central" protest, which paralyzed city streets in the southern Chinese territory. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

Occupy Central leaders, from left, Chan Kin-man, Chu Yiu-ming and Benny Tai pose for photographers before entering a court in Hong Kong, Wednesday, April 10, 2019. Nine pro-democracy activists returned to court Wednesday in Hong Kong to await their verdicts after having been found guilty of various offenses in relation to the 2014 "Occupy Central" protest, which paralyzed city streets in the southern Chinese territory. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

A Hong Kong court has extended bail for nine pro-democracy protest organizers convicted of public nuisance offences as they await sentencing.

The guilty verdicts handed down Tuesday against the nine were condemned by rights activists as a likely sign of more restrictions on free expression in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory.

The defendants left court on Wednesday and will be sentenced April 24.

The nine were leaders of 2014's nonviolent "Occupy Central" campaign, also known as the "Umbrella Movement" after a key symbol of defiance against police adopted by the street protests that shut down parts of the financial hub for 79 days.

Protesters demanded the right to choose Hong Kong's own leader rather than merely approve a candidate picked by Beijing but failed to win any concessions from the government.