A court in Hong Kong has sentenced eight leaders of the massive 2014 Umbrella Movement pro-democracy protests to up to 16 months in prison on public nuisance charges.

The sentences are seen as an effort by the government of the semi-autonomous territory to draw a line under the protests amid pressure from China’s central government.

Three protest leaders were given 16 months, one of them suspended for two years, two received eight months in prison and two were given suspended eight-month sentences. Another was ordered to perform 200 hours of community service. One other defendant, Tanya Chan, had her sentencing postponed as she is due to undergo surgery.

The protest leaders pledged to continue fighting for democracy. “Thank you for the sentencing,” Raphael Wong, given eight months, told Judge Johnny Chan. “Our determination on fighting for genuine universal suffrage will not change.”

The nine were leaders of the “Occupy Central” campaign, a non-violent pro-democracy sit-in that paralysed parts of Hong Kong for 79 days in late 2014.

In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Show all 20 1 /20 In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong protests Police officers reacts outside Hong Kong government complex In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong protests The "Umbrella Revolution": Riot police launch tear gas into the crowd as thousands of protesters surround the government headquarters in Hong Kong AP In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong protests A man takes a picture with his mobile phone of a pro-democracy protest on Nathan Road, a major route through the heart of the Kowloon district of Hong Kong In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong protests A police car is blocked by protesters after thousands of people block a main road to the financial central district outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong protests Riot policemen use pepper spray to young pro-democracy activists who forced their way into Hong Kong government headquarters during a demonstration in Hong Kong In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong protests Police officers stand in a cloud of tear gas during a demonstration in Hong Kong In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong protests Protesters rest following pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong protests Police officers stand in front of pro-democracy protesters during a demonstration in Hong Kong In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong protests A pro-democracy protester confronts the police during a demonstration in Hong Kong In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong protests A shield wall of unbrellas is formed as thousands of demonstrators storm onto a highway after breaking through police cordons on 28 September Getty In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong protests A woman holds a protest sign at a pro-democracy protest on Nathan Road, a major route through the heart of the Kowloon district of Hong Kong AFP/Getty In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong protests Protesters argue with a man (centre) opposing a pro-democracy demonstration as they block the Mong Kok MTR station exit next to Nathan Road AFP/Getty In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong protests Riot police fire tear gas on protesters in the early hours of this morning AP In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong protests Three women rest on the streets after a night of protesting AFP/Getty In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong protests Riot police arrested scores of students who stormed the government headquarters compound GETTY In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong protests The dispersal followed a night of scuffles between police and about 150 protesters who forced their way into the government compound, some scaling a tall fence GETTY In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong protests Hong Kong Secretary for Security Lai Tung-kwok told reporters that police acted appropriately and gave students sufficient warning GETTY In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong protests The scuffles came out of the end of a week-long strike by students demanding China's Communist leaders organise democratic elections in 2017 GETTY In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong protests Hong Kong's young people have become vocal supporters of full democracy in recent years GETTY In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong protests Thousands of university and college students who had spent the week boycotting classes were joined by a smaller group of high school students GETTY

The movement became known as the “Umbrella Movement” after participants used umbrellas to defend themselves against police pepper spray. Over a million people took part, according to organisers.

Protesters demanded the right to freely nominate candidates for Hong Kong’s leader, who would then be elected by all of the territory’s roughly 5 million voters.

Police cleared the demonstrators in December 2014, and authorities granted no democratic concessions. Chief executive Carrie Lam was chosen in 2017 from a slate of candidates approved by Beijing, and elected by a 1,200-member pro-China electoral body.

Judges acknowledged the right to civil disobedience and the right to assembly and free speech, but said the protracted road blockages had caused suffering to the public and that some restrictions on freedoms were necessary in a democratic society.

The sentences come after China’s Communist Party leaders have put Hong Kong’s autonomy under increasing strain, stoking concern among foreign governments, business people and rights groups.

“The long sentences send a chilling warning to all that there will be serious consequences for advocating for democracy,” said Maya Wang, Hong Kong-based chief researcher for China at Human Rights Watch.

“The Beijing and Hong Kong authorities appear intent on eliminating the only pocket of freedoms on Chinese soil.”

The defendants had all pleaded not guilty, calling the prosecutions politically motivated.