Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong sentenced to 10 years in prison under national security law

OPA WIRE, Nov 5 (OPA) — Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong was sentenced to 10 additional years in jail on Thursday under a Beijing-introduced national security law for colluding with foreign entities. Wong, who turned 30 last month, had been expected to be freed in January after serving four years and eight months for subversion. Judge William Tam stated that while the offense carried a potential life term, the starting point of 13 years was reduced to 10 because of Wong's guilty plea. Wong entered the dock wearing a blue shirt and black glasses, nodding to supporters before waving goodbye as he left the courtroom.

The court identified Wong and self-exiled student leader Nathan Law as masterminds of a conspiracy to endanger national security by lobbying foreign governments to impose sanctions on Hong Kong and China. Steve Li, chief superintendent of the police's National Security Department, welcomed the sentencing, stating it proved Wong's efforts were futile. Conversely, Human Rights Watch condemned the sentence as cruel and unjust, while Taiwan's top China policy body criticized the ruling as endless political persecution utilizing authoritarian tools.

Wong rose to international prominence during the 2014 Umbrella Movement and has been imprisoned intermittently since 2017. Authorities alleged that Wong began international lobbying as early as 2016 to promote the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, which enabled the U.S. president to impose sanctions for rights violations. During the massive 2019 protests, Wong traveled to the United States as part of a delegation to lobby for the legislation.

Beijing subsequently imposed the national security law in 2020, effectively suppressing dissent and forcing opposition groups to disband or flee. Wong was among dozens of pro-democracy figures jailed for subversion in 2024 during Hong Kong's largest national security trial. With his latest sentence, Wong is now scheduled for release in late 2036, having already spent nearly six years behind bars.