Joshua Wong received a 10-year sentence for conspiracy to collude with foreign forces, a second conviction under the Beijing-imposed national security law.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
A Hong Kong court sentenced prominent activist Joshua Wong to 10 years in prison on Thursday for a second conviction under a Beijing-imposed national security law. The sentence follows a charge of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security.
Judge William Tam stated that Wong and fellow activist Nathan Law colluded with foreign officials and other foreign actors to seek measures against China and Hong Kong. The judge noted that these actions included calling for sanctions or hostile measures, such as the U.S. revocation of the city’s preferential treatment as a special administrative region and U.S. sanctions on Chinese and Hong Kong officials.
"The punishment must fit the gravity of the crime committed," Tam wrote. "It is also necessary for this court to express the community’s abhorrence of the defendant’s scheme and acts together with others to collude with foreign forces."
Tam noted that while a 13-year sentence was considered as a starting point, it was reduced due to Wong's guilty plea and mitigation. Wong will serve the remaining two months of his previous four-year, eight-month sentence concurrently with this new sentence.
The prosecution alleged that Wong and Law agreed in or around 2016 to lobby internationally for democratic self-determination. The prosecution stated that Wong supported efforts from Hong Kong through foreign media and social media to draw international attention and bolster requests for sanctions, blockades, or other hostile measures against China and Hong Kong.
Wong, 30, stated in a written statement from prison that he believed he was acting within the law and was not directly advocating for sanctions when he reposted social media posts or called on foreign companies to consider ceasing business with the Hong Kong police. He said he later realized his judgment was wrong.
His lawyer, Derek Chan, urged the court to impose a sentence that would provide his client hope, noting that Wong wishes to care for his parents after his release.
The United States strongly condemned the sentencing. The U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong stated that Wong has been "unjustly imprisoned" since late 2020, adding that "Beijing will go to extraordinary lengths to silence those who advocate for fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong."
Other reactions included:
Observers and rights groups suggest the sentencing reflects a broader crackdown on Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement. Eric Lai, a research fellow at the Georgetown Center for Asian Law, stated that national security law charges "can be repeatedly weaponized to keep a specific political prisoner in jail, if the government deems necessary."
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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