Hong Kong Activist Joshua Wong Sentenced to 10 Years in National Security Case
A Hong Kong high court sentenced pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong to 10 years in prison for foreign collusion under the national security law. It is his second conviction under the law, and human rights groups have criticised the ruling.
Hong Kong high court judge William Tam on Thursday sentenced pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong to 10 years in prison after Wong pleaded guilty in September to "foreign collusion". It is Wong's second conviction under the national security law that China introduced in 2020, which critics say has been used to silence political opposition in the city.
The charge
Wong was accused of working with exiled activist Nathan Law to urge foreign powers to impose sanctions, blockades or other hostile measures against China. The judge called Wong's actions "grave in nature". He said Wong had travelled to the US to seek foreign interference before the law's introduction in 2020, and after it took effect continued to share social media posts by Law calling for sanctions. The judge described Wong's role as supplying "underground support" and drawing foreign attention to the cause, part of a "scheme" to collude with foreign governments.
Tam ruled that the new sentence will run concurrently with the remaining term of Wong's previous national security conviction.
Reactions
In a statement, Law said it was incredibly sad to see his friend suffer another sentencing over peaceful advocacy for Hong Kong's democracy. Sarah Brooks, deputy regional director of Amnesty International, called the sentence a grim reminder that the law has become a tool to punish dissent rather than protect national security.
There was a heavy police presence at the court. Dozens of people queued outside the building, and a group of international diplomats attended the hearing.
Earlier sentence
Wong is already serving four years and eight months, imposed in November 2024 for conspiracy to commit subversion over an unofficial primary election. He has spent nearly six years in detention and had been due for release in January 2027.
Wong is 30 years old. He gained international attention in the 2014 Umbrella protests, which paralysed the city's financial centre. He is the only activist in Hong Kong prosecuted twice under the law.
