A Hong Kong couple were found not guilty of rioting during last year's pro-democracy protests on Friday in a ruling that could see hundreds of others avoid jail time.

More than 9,000 people were arrested during months of massive and sometimes violent demonstrations in the financial hub, initially sparked by a now-abandoned plan to allow extraditions to the Chinese mainland.

Henry Tong and Elaine To were charged with rioting and faced up to seven years in prison after they were detained by police last July.

But the district court found there was no evidence to prove the pair were participating in that day's protest.

Presiding Judge Anthony Kwok said it was unreasonable to assume the defendants had joined the demonstration just because they were wearing dark outfits similar to those sported by the protesters.

"As for black clothing, that's the day-to-day outfit of many residents," he said.

Supporters applauded and the couple burst into tears when the verdict was read.

"We won't celebrate because there are many people yet to have a fair verdict. We hope to celebrate with everyone else when all of us have got a fair ruling," Tong told media outside the court.

Tong and To were released on bail in August and went ahead with their planned wedding while awaiting their court appearance.

Their case sets a precedent that could make it harder for the prosecution to secure convictions against some of the 600 or so others charged with rioting during last year's protests.

Last year's pro-democracy rallies raged for more than seven months and saw routine clashes between police and protesters concerned about the erosion of the city's unique freedoms by mainland Chinese rule.

Beijing responded last month by imposing a sweeping national security tightening restrictions on dissent and subversion and threatening life imprisonment for the most serious offenders.

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Will Hong Kong become like tightly-ruled but stable Singapore
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Limited democracy but high living standards and stability form a trade-off that most Singaporeans seem willing to live with - and some now suggest rival Asian finance hub Hong Kong can emulate the model as China tightens control. The two trading centres have long been compared but recent events have brought the issue into sharper contrast as Hong Kong faces a new era of curtailed civil liberties following China's imposition of a wide-ranging national security law. Supporters argue that after mo ... read more