Britain has condemned the Hong Kong authorities’ sentencing of nine prominent pro-democracy activists on Friday for taking part in peaceful protests. Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 14 months in prison, while nine other activists received jail time or suspended sentences for organising and participating in unauthorized assemblies during mass anti-Beijing, pro-democracy protests in 2019. “The Hong Kong authorities’ decision to target leading pro-democracy figures for prosecution is unacceptable and must stop,” said a spokesperson for the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). “The right to peaceful protest is fundamental to Hong Kong’s way of life—protected in both the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law—and it should be upheld.” Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Twitter that Britain “will continue to stand together with the people of Hong Kong.” Chris Patten, the last British governor of Hong Kong, said: “The CCP’s comprehensive assault on the freedoms …