Joshua Wong, one of Hong Kong’s most prominent pro-democracy activists, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after a court found him guilty of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces, a charge under the city’s sweeping national security law.
The sentencing was handed down today in a Hong Kong court, where the judge described Wong’s offense as being of a “grave nature” and said it warranted a sentence of no less than 10 years. The court identified Wong and fellow activist Nathan Law, who is currently in exile in Britain, as the “ringleaders” of a conspiracy that involved lobbying foreign governments for sanctions and other hostile measures against Hong Kong and China.
Wong’s new sentence significantly extends his time behind bars. He had already served almost six years in prison on a separate subversion charge under the national security law and was due for release in January. The latest conviction means he will remain incarcerated for the foreseeable future.
According to the court, the conspiracy centered on coordinated efforts to urge international actors to impose punitive measures on Hong Kong and Chinese officials. The judge said these actions posed a serious threat to national security and undermined the stability of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Nathan Law, who fled Hong Kong and has since sought asylum in the United Kingdom, was also named in the proceedings but was not present in court. Authorities have accused Law of continuing his advocacy abroad, while Wong was prosecuted for his alleged role within Hong Kong.
The national security law, imposed by Beijing in 2020, criminalizes acts of secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces. It has been widely criticized by international human rights groups and Western governments for its broad definitions and its use in stifling dissent in the city.
Wong, a co-founder of the now-disbanded Demosisto party, has been a leading figure in Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement since his teenage years. He first gained international attention during the 2014 Umbrella Movement and has since faced multiple arrests and jail terms related to his activism.
There has been no official comment from Wong’s legal team or family following the sentencing. Human rights organizations and foreign governments have previously condemned the use of the national security law to target activists, calling for the release of those imprisoned under its provisions.
Why it matters
The sentencing of Joshua Wong marks one of the longest terms handed down to a high-profile activist under Hong Kong’s national security law, signaling an escalation in the authorities’ approach to political dissent. Wong’s case is closely watched by both local and international observers as a barometer of the city’s shrinking political freedoms since the law’s enactment.
This development is likely to further strain relations between Hong Kong and Western governments, many of which have criticized the law as incompatible with the city’s promised autonomy and civil liberties. The court’s identification of Nathan Law, now in exile, underscores the cross-border reach of the law and its use against activists abroad.
Wong’s extended imprisonment removes a prominent voice from Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement and sends a clear message to other activists about the risks of political advocacy. The outcome is expected to have a chilling effect on civil society and may influence the strategies of both local and overseas campaigners in the months ahead.
The image accompanying this article is an AI-generated illustrative depiction inspired by the actual scene of the event.
