Forty-five prominent activists in Hong Kong have been sentenced to up to 10 years in jail, sparking criticism from foreign governments and rights groups.

The activists were arrested over a single day in 2021 and charged with “conspiracy to commit subversion” for taking part in an unofficial primary election.

Hong Kong's High Court on Tuesday jailed 45 pro-democracy activists for up to 10 years following a landmark national security trial that has damaged the city's once feisty democracy movement and drawn criticism from the U.

The defendants were prosecuted under a sweeping law imposed by Beijing that crushed a once-thriving pro-democracy movement.

A Hong Kong court has begun sentencing more than 40 of the city’s best known pro-democracy figures on charges of subversion in the largest national security trial to date following Beijing’s sweeping crackdown on dissent in the once free-wheeling city.

Ventus Lau is one of 45 activists and politicians who was sentenced in the city’s biggest national security trial. His girlfriend, Emilia Wong, a gender rights activist, talks about the impact his case has had on their relationship.

The U.S. has criticized the trial and said the activists should be released as they had been "peacefully participating in political activities."

Forty-five ex-lawmakers and activists have been sentenced to four to 10 years in prison in Hong Kong’s biggest national security case under a Beijing-imposed law that crushed a once-thriving pro-democ

Hundreds queued on Tuesday outside a Hong Kong court ahead of the sentencing of 45 pro-democracy activists in a landmark national security trial that has damaged the city's once feisty pro-democracy movement and drawn international criticism.