The shift in opinion was triggered partly by perceptions of China's handling of COVID-19, as well as a trade war with the US, aggressive foreign policy and a military buildup in the South China Sea.

Joshua Wong, 22, was sentenced to three months in jail in January last year for disobeying a court order and not leaving a protest zone during the rallies that blocked major roads in the Chinese-ruled city for nearly three months.

The move has drawn attention to Hong Kong's press autonomy as well as the city's promised freedoms from China.

The trio helped lead the largely peaceful "Umbrella Movement" that blocked major roads for 79 days in 2014, demanding Beijing grant Hong Kong full democracy.

The newly constructed bridge is expected to be the icon of a new era of unity, though doubts about its efficiency and benefits are still rife.

Most of the leaders of the 2011 uprising that gained global attention have now fled China, others arrested or under severe threat.

While foreign media outlets have been urged to leave the village, Chinese authorities have gone aggressively after against the organisers of the protest.

Lam Wing-kee was detained by China for selling "politically sensitive" books.