The case has drawn international attention and concern over the defendants treatment group.

All had faced charges in Hong Kong from last year's anti government protests and we're traveling away from the city when they were intercepted on August 23rd, allegedly on route to self ruled Taiwan.

They have bean held virtually incommunicado in a mainland Chinese prison since then.

Ah Court in the Chinese city of Shenzhen, just over the land border with Hong Kong, found eight off the defendants guilty off illegally crossing the border and sentenced them to seven months in jail and define of over $1500.

Two more were also found guilty of organizing the crossing and face two and three years in jail.

The court said.

All 10 had pled guilty to their crimes after the verdicts were announced.

Hong Kong police said that two miners in the groups, now aged 17 and 18, had been handed over and would appear in court in Hong Kong after completing quarantine for coronavirus.

The mainland prosecutor said they would not be charged after the two miners had willingly admitted to their guilt.

However, Hong Kong police said they may face additional charges when they return home.

Rights group Amnesty International expressed concern over the safety off the defendants in the mainland prison system.

Family appointed lawyers were denied access to their clients, and the government appointed lawyers were not available for comment.