Three men guilty in Hong Kong explosives plot

Three men were found guilty of possessing and conspiring to make explosives ahead of a contentious 2015 vote on political reform by a Hong Kong court Friday.

The trio were arrested along with two others at a time of heightened political tension in Hong Kong, following the failure of mass "Umbrella Movement" rallies to win democratic reform for the semi-autonomous city.

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The five were detained as legislators prepared to vote on a Beijing-backed reform bill on how the city should choose its next leader, a year after the widespread protests that were seen as an unprecedented rebuke to China.

The legislation, which stipulated that candidates must be vetted by a committee loyal to Beijing, was eventually voted down by pro-democracy lawmakers.

The jury at the city's High Court found Rizzy Pennelli, 24, guilty of one count of conspiracy to make explosives and two counts of possessing explosives.

Cheng Wai-shing, 31, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to make explosives and one count of possessing explosives, with Chan Yiu-shing, 36, guilty of one count of possessing explosives.

Defendants Wu Kai-fu and Man Ting-lock were acquitted.

The court had heard how the defendants had joined an anti-government group which had discussed causing "chaos" around the vote.

Local media previously reported that the group advocated independence for Hong Kong.