Joshua Wong, a prominent democracy activist, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for conspiring to collude with foreign forces under the National Security Law.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at the Hong Kong High Court for "conspiring to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security" under China's Hong Kong National Security Law.
Presiding Judge Tam Yiu-ho ruled that Wong's offense constituted a "serious crime." Under the National Security Law, "serious crimes" can result in a sentence of 10 years or more up to life imprisonment. The judge stated that the starting point for the sentence was 13 years, which was reduced by 3 years due to Wong's plea of guilt and mitigation, resulting in the 10-year term.
According to court details, the offense occurred between July 1, 2020, and November 23, 2020. The prosecution alleged that Wong and others conspired to request foreign or overseas institutions to impose sanctions or other hostile actions against Hong Kong or China. The court noted that Wong's actions included using social media to reach international audiences and facilitating the implementation of sanctions by foreign entities.
Of the new 10-year term, 2 months and 2 days will be served concurrently with a previous sentence Wong is currently serving for the "Democracy Party Primary Election 47-person case."
Wong, 30, has been in prison since the end of 2020. He is the only activist in Hong Kong to be prosecuted twice under the National Security Law. He was previously sentenced to four years and eight months for conspiracy to commit subversion related to an unofficial primary election.
Legal scholars and human rights groups have raised concerns regarding the use of the law. Li En-hao, a senior researcher at the Georgetown Center for Asian Law, noted that the new charges provide a way to "keep Wong Chi-fung out of the public eye for a longer period." Human Rights Watch stated the sentence is "cruel and unjust," alleging the government uses the tactic of stacking charges to ensure prolonged detention for influential leaders.
Li Gui-hua, Deputy Commissioner of the Hong Kong Police Force's National Security Department, welcomed the sentence, describing it as appropriate. Li stated that Wong has "committed numerous crimes" and expressed hope that Wong would "reflect on the wrongs he has done to the country and Hong Kong."
A Hong Kong government spokesperson stated in September that "the lawful exercise of free speech must not be conflated with taking actions to collude with a foreign country to impose ‘sanctions’ to harm one’s own country."
Joshua Wong's sentencing marks a significant moment in the application of the National Security Law, which was introduced by Beijing in 2020. The case highlights the ongoing tension between Hong Kong authorities and pro-democracy activists regarding the limits of political advocacy and the use of international lobbying.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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