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Hong Kong pro-democracy activists Joshua Wong, Agnes Chow and Ivan Lam were handed prison sentences Wednesday after pleading guilty to charges of organizing and inciting an unauthorised assembly during last year's massive protests.

The big picture: Wong will serve 13.5 months, Chow 10 months, and Lam seven months, per a statement from activists posted to Wong's Twitter page. The trio were remanded on Nov. 23, and Wong had tweeted about conditions in custody ahead of sentencing.

Go deeper: China's iron curtain descends on Hong Kong

Hong Kong activists sentenced to prison over pro-democracy protests

Wong will serve 13.5 months, Chow 10 months, and Lam seven months.

Pro-democracy activists Joshua Wong (C) and Ivan Lam (L) board a Hong Kong Correctional Service van ahead of a sentence hearing at Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre on December 2, 2020 in Hong Kong

Pro-democracy activists  Ivan Lam (L)  and Joshua Wong (C) board a correctional service van ahead of a sentence hearing at Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre in Hong Kong on Wednesday. Photo: Anthony Kwan/Getty Images

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<p>Hong Kong pro-democracy activists Joshua Wong, Agnes Chow and Ivan Lam were handed prison sentences Wednesday <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="after pleading guilty" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/hong-kong-joshua-wong-detained-guilty-plea-2019-protests-9211b51c-b017-4842-87b0-877ab91819be.html" data-vars-content-id="90d93c9c-3d12-4ee0-83f6-f9c81cf0f19b" data-vars-headline="Hong Kong activists sentenced to prison over pro-democracy protests" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/hong-kong-joshua-wong-detained-guilty-plea-2019-protests-9211b51c-b017-4842-87b0-877ab91819be.html" target="_self">after pleading guilty</a> to charges of organizing and inciting an unauthorised assembly during last year&#x27;s massive protests.</p><p><strong>The big picture: </strong>Wong will serve 13.5 months, Chow 10 months, and Lam seven months, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="per a statement" data-vars-click-url="https://twitter.com/jeffreychngo/status/1334036342188216322" data-vars-content-id="90d93c9c-3d12-4ee0-83f6-f9c81cf0f19b" data-vars-headline="Hong Kong activists sentenced to prison over pro-democracy protests" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://twitter.com/jeffreychngo/status/1334036342188216322" target="_blank">per a statement</a> from activists posted to Wong&#x27;s Twitter page. The trio were remanded on Nov. 23, and Wong had tweeted about conditions in custody ahead of sentencing.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/joshuawongcf/status/1333417818545655808"></a></blockquote><div style="display:none"></div></div><p><strong>Go deeper: </strong><a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="China&#x27;s iron curtain descends on Hong Kong" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/china-hong-kong-national-security-law-51833a86-9a54-4cdc-9234-0bdd4db2b369.html" data-vars-content-id="90d93c9c-3d12-4ee0-83f6-f9c81cf0f19b" data-vars-headline="Hong Kong activists sentenced to prison over pro-democracy protests" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/china-hong-kong-national-security-law-51833a86-9a54-4cdc-9234-0bdd4db2b369.html" target="_self">China&#x27;s iron curtain descends on Hong Kong</a></p><span data-ad-status="NO_AD_LENGTH" data-ad-type="midStoryAd"></span>

China is becoming the most formidable rival America has faced, and the risk of confrontation with Russia, North Korea or Iran still looms. Authoritarians are rising, the chaotic Afghanistan exit revealed the limits of U.S. power, and the pandemic, climate change and other critical challenges continue to pose grave threats.