45 pro-democracy Hong Kong activists sentenced to up to 10 years in prison under China-backed law

Authorities successful Hong Kong sentenced 45 salient pro-democracy activists to up to 10 years successful situation connected Tuesday for violating a wide-ranging national information law imposed connected the country by China.

The activists are accused of agreeing to veto government-proposed budgets indiscriminately aft securing a bulk to unit a dissolution of the legislature and eventual ouster of the city's leader.

Of the 47 individuals charged, 31 pleaded blameworthy to conspiracy to perpetrate subversion, portion 14 others were convicted pursuing a trial. Two others were acquitted.

The drastic crackdown brought disapproval from occidental countries. Australia, who had a national among those sentenced, objected to authorities some successful Hong Kong and Beijing implicit the move.

HONG KONG JOURNALISTS CONVICTED OF SEDITION AS CHINA CRACKS DOWN ON FREE PRESS: REPORT

Hong Kong constabulary arrested 47 pro-democracy activists, 45 of whom were sentenced to up to 10 years successful prison. (AP Photo/Billy H.C. Kwok)

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said her authorities was "gravely concerned" implicit the sentencing of Australian national Gordon Ng.

Officials successful the U.K. likewise condemned the move, saying it was yet different illustration of Beijing utilizing the 2021 nationalist information instrumentality to snuff retired pro-democracy voices.

"Those sentenced contiguous were exercising their close to state of speech, of assembly and of governmental participation," said Catherine West, who serves arsenic curate for the Indo-Pacific successful Britain’s Foreign Office.

The emblem of China is flown down a brace of surveillance cameras extracurricular the Central Government Offices successful Hong Kong, China. (Roy Liu/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The U.S. consulate successful Hong Kong expressed a akin view, condemning the sentences.

PROTEST ANTHEM 'GLORY TO HONG KONG' OUTLAWED IN CITY

"We telephone connected (Beijing) and Hong Kong authorities to cease politically motivated prosecutions of Hong Kong citizens and to instantly merchandise each governmental prisoners and individuals jailed for their peaceful advocacy for rights and freedoms," it said successful a statement.

The sentencing comes little than a period aft 2 pro-democracy journalists successful Hong Kong were sentenced to situation for "seditious" activities and "illegal ideologies."

Chung Pui-kuen, 55, and Patrick Lam, 36, were recovered blameworthy successful August of conspiring to people seditious materials done their Stand News media outlet. 

Chung was the erstwhile editor-in-chief of Stand News and received a 21-month situation sentence. Lam, Chung's successor, was sentenced to 14 months but had his clip reduced owed to a assortment of factors, specified arsenic his clip served pre-trial and his wellness conditions.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The 2 men are the archetypal journalists convicted of specified crimes successful Hong Kong since the United Kingdom handed it implicit to Chinese rule successful 1997.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.