This June 18, 2019 photo shows the Wan Chai Tower in Hong Kong, where the District Court is located. (PHOTO / INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT, HKSAR)

HONG KONG - Three Hong Kong residents were found guilty at the District Court on Wednesday of rioting and assaulting a mainland journalist during an illegal mass sit-in at Hong Kong International Airport in August 2019.

Lai Yun-long, 20, Amy Pat Wai-fan, 25, and Ho Ka-lok, 29, were charged with attacking Global Times journalist Fu Guohao on Aug 13, 2019. The sit-in later turned into a large-scale clash between masked, black-clad rioters and police.

District Judge Clement Lee Hing-nin said the three, along with others, had disrupted the social peace and subjected Global Times journalist Fu Guohao to wanton abuse with their identities hidden

Pat was also found guilty of false imprisonment.

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District Judge Clement Lee Hing-nin said the three, along with others, had disrupted the social peace and subjected Fu to wanton abuse with their identities hidden.

Lee said video clips showed direct acts of violence and humiliation against Fu, including binding him to a trolley with tape and zip ties, shining strong lights at him, beating him for two minutes, searching his belongings, and obstructing an ambulance.

Lai had also held high an “I support Hong Kong police” T-shirt found in Fu’s backpack in an attempt to incite hatred among others, the judge said.

A fourth defendant, Wong Yat-ho, 29, was acquitted of illegal assembly and false imprisonment. The judge said it could not be confirmed through the available evidence that Wong is the same person depicted in the footage.

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Before the trial started in October, Lai had pleaded guilty to charges of common assault and obstructing a public officer. Ho pleaded guilty to possessing offensive weapons in a public place.

The court will hand down the sentences on Friday morning.