Hong Kong, Nov 5:
Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Thursday after pleading guilty to conspiracy to collude with foreign forces under the national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020. The sentence is expected to keep the 30-year-old activist behind bars until late 2036.
High Court Judge William Tam described the offence as grave and said the punishment had to reflect its seriousness. The court set 13 years as the starting point before reducing the term to 10 years in recognition of Wongâs guilty plea.
Wong was accused of conspiring with exiled activist Nathan Law and others to encourage foreign governments, organisations and individuals to impose sanctions, blockades or other measures against China and Hong Kong. Prosecutors said the alleged activities included international lobbying, media appearances, online petitions and social media campaigns seeking foreign intervention.
The alleged conspiracy covered activities between 2016 and November 2020, including efforts to secure international support for sanctions against officials accused of human rights violations. Wong pleaded guilty to the charge in September.
During the sentencing proceedings, Wong maintained that he had never advocated Hong Kong independence or sought regime change in China. He also denied receiving foreign funding or hiring overseas political consultants. He said he had believed his actions were lawful at the time but later realised he had been mistaken.
The new sentence follows an earlier four-year-and-eight-month prison term imposed in 2024 for conspiracy to commit subversion in connection with an unofficial primary election held by Hong Kongâs pro-democracy camp in 2020. The judge said the two sentences could run concurrently, although Wong had only about two months remaining on his earlier term.
Wong first gained prominence in 2012, when he led student protests against a government-backed national education programme. He later became one of the most recognisable figures of the 2014 Umbrella Movement, which demanded greater democratic rights and electoral freedoms in Hong Kong. He also co-founded the now-disbanded political party Demosisto in 2016.
Beijing introduced the national security law in June 2020 following months of large-scale anti-government demonstrations in Hong Kong. The legislation criminalises secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces. Chinese and Hong Kong authorities maintain that it was necessary to restore stability and protect national security.
However, human rights organisations and critics argue that the legislation has severely restricted political opposition, freedom of expression and civil society. Human Rights Watch described Wongâs sentence as unjust and called for his release, saying the prosecution demonstrated the use of national security charges against prominent pro-democracy figures.
The case follows the imprisonment of media tycoon Jimmy Lai, who received a 20-year sentence in February for collusion with foreign forces and sedition.
Wongâs sentencing adds to concerns among international rights groups about the future of political dissent in Hong Kong, once known for its active protest movements and independent media.