Joshua Wong sentenced to 10 years in jail under Hong Kong’s national security law
Pro‑democracy activist Joshua Wong received a 10‑year term for colluding with foreign forces, adding to his years already behind bars.
Sentencing details
Joshua Wong, a prominent figure in Hong Kong’s pro‑democracy protests, was sentenced on Thursday to 10 years in prison for colluding with foreign forces under the city’s national security law.
The judge explained that two months and two days of the term will run concurrently with Wong’s current sentence for subversion, which he has been serving for the past six years and was due to end in January.
Charges and alleged conduct
Prosecutors argued that Wong worked with other campaigners, notably self‑exiled activist Nathan Law, to lobby for foreign sanctions and blockades against Beijing. The court was told these activities occurred between July and late November 2020.
Both Wong and Law co‑founded the now‑defunct pro‑democracy party Demosisto.
Hong Kong’s chief executive John Lee described them as “primary culprits” who undermined the city’s prosperity and stability.
Reactions
Frances Hui, a fellow activist now based in the United States, said she felt “heartbroken” and “outraged” by the verdict, adding that the sentencing targets an entire generation of activists.
Human Rights Watch called the ruling “cruel and unjust,” while its Asia director Elaine Pearson said the government appears to be “stacking charges against influential pro‑democracy leaders” to keep society subdued.
Background on Wong
Born in October 1996 to an IT professional and a homemaker, Wong was diagnosed with dyslexia as a child. He entered activism as a teenager, co‑founding the student group Scholarism at age 14 and later helping lead the 2014 Umbrella Movement.
In 2016 he co‑founded Demosisto with Nathan Law and Agnes Chow. The party disbanded in 2020, the same year the national security law was imposed.
Legal history
Wong’s legal troubles began with a guilty plea on 23 November 2020 to charges related to 2019 protests outside the police headquarters. He was later among 47 people charged with “conspiracy to commit subversion,” a case known as the Hong Kong 47.
While serving a 56‑month subversion sentence, he faced the new collusion charge that led to today’s 10‑year term.
Comparative sentencing
The longest sentence under the national security law so far has been handed to former media tycoon Jimmy Lai, who received a 20‑year term for similar collusion charges.
Wong’s sentencing adds to a growing list of pro‑democracy figures receiving lengthy prison terms under the law.
His future release date now extends a decade beyond the original expectation, marking a significant escalation in the legal pressure on Hong Kong’s activist community.
