The District Court on Saturday jailed seven people for between nine and 18 months for taking part in an unlawful assembly in Central during the 2019 social unrest.

The defendants, aged between 20 and 35, had earlier been convicted for their involvement in a protest near Pedder Street, Des Voeux Road Central, and Chater Road on November 13, 2019.

In sentencing, District Judge Josiah Lam noted that the incidents had taken place on major thoroughfares, and that street signs and traffic lights had been destroyed.

He said even though no one was injured, the damage had nevertheless affected shop owners and citizens.

The court also raised the prison term to three-and-a-half years for one of the defendants, a 22-year-old male student, who had also pleaded guilty to drug trafficking.