The seven other defendants are student Cheung Wing-sheung, 21; student Lam Chin-ching, 25; student Liu Hong-leung, 22; manager Lee Ping-lok, 63; jobless Li Ka-vi, 26; Poon Wing-kit, 22; and logistic worker Au Hoi-fung, 23.

The eight of them were charged with rioting at a section of Nathan Road between Gascoigne Road and Jordan Road on November 18, 2019.

In District Court on Friday, judge Ernest Lin Kam-hung sentenced Au, who had pleaded guilty, to 44 months' imprisonment. Poon was jailed for four years. Liu, Lee, Yick, Li were put behind bars for 50 months, and Cheung and Lam were jailed for 56 months.

Lin believed the defendants are not evil and they committed the crimes due to the social atmosphere at the time.

He said Yick had been shooting videos for production companies after obtaining a law degree from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Yick showed remorse and noted he doesn't advocate violence, with a number of social elites writing mitigation letters for him.

Yick shared good characteristics and was committed in voluntary work.

Lin continued he himself was “deeply disturbed” by sentencing Yick, who would become a pillar for the society in the future. However, Yick committed acts that disrupted social order and that must not be tolerated.

Lin also described the siege as one of the most violent scenes during the anti-extradition bill protests with protesters continuously lobbing Molotov cocktails, and added the siege has left a huge wound in citizens' heart.

The judge continued that the protests paralyzed the key area in the Kowloon district and damaged Hong Kong's international reputation as a safe and secure city. The society also became polarized with people caring about others' political stands but ignoring objective evidence and reasoning.

Earlier, an 18-year-old student surnamed Wong was sent to a detention center after he pleaded guilty, while a 43-year-old janitor was acquitted of the charge.