Hong Kong pro-democracy activists in court

Hong Kong pro-democracy activists including businessman Jimmy Lai, former lawmakers Martin Lee and Lee Cheuk Yan appeared in court Friday on charges of participating in and organizing anti-government protests last year.

y were part of a number of high-profile demonstrators arrested this April in a heavy official crackdown on movement.

move was widely criticised in West and by human rights activists, but Hong Kong government has insisted arrests were lawful.