Confirming worst fears, 9 pro-democracy leaders in Hong Kong have been jailed for organising peaceful anti-government protests in 2019. Among them was Beijing critic and media tycoon Jimmy Lai – the 72yo was sentenced to 14 months in prison. And that might not be it for him with two additional charges that carry a maximum penalty of life in prison pending. Judge Amanda Woodcock said the defendants “deliberately defied the law” by posing a “direct challenge to the authority of the police and therefore law and order”. Several defendants avoided prison because of their age and records of public service, including the city’s ‘father of democracy’ Martin Lee (82yo) and lawyer Margaret Ng (73yo). #SquizShortcuts