Joshua Wong has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to foreign collusion, marking his second conviction under Hong Kong’s national security law. The 30-year-old activist wore a dark blue shirt and thick-rimmed spectacles in court, nodding and bowing to supporters who waited outside amid a heavy police presence.
High Court Judge William Tam described Wong’s actions as “grave in nature” during the ruling. The court found that Wong had visited the United States to seek foreign interference before the national security law took effect in 2020, and continued sharing social media posts from exiled activist Nathan Law that called for foreign sanctions.
From 2014 Umbrella Protests to National Security Courtrooms
Wong first rose to international prominence as a teenager leading Hong Kong’s 2014 pro-democracy demonstrations. His role in the Umbrella protests earned him a spot on the cover of Time magazine in October 2014 under the headline “The Face of Protest.” When mass demonstrations erupted again in 2019 over a proposed extradition bill, Wong was serving a prison sentence for his 2014 activism. He was released at the height of the unrest and immediately rejoined the street rallies.
Beijing introduced the sweeping national security law in 2020 to restore stability to the former British colony. Prosecutors accused Wong and other figures of conspiring to lobby the United States and other governments to impose sanctions and blockades against China and Hong Kong. Prosecutors specifically pointed to meetings Wong held with U.S. politicians, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and then-Senator Marco Rubio.
Judge orders concurrent sentence for previous subversion conviction
Wong is currently serving a four-year and eight-month prison sentence imposed in November 2024 for conspiracy to commit subversion. That conviction stemmed from his role in an unofficial primary election organized by the pro-democracy camp in 2020. Hong Kong authorities labeled the primary vote a vicious plot to paralyze the government, prosecuting 47 opposition figures in what became the city’s largest national security trial.
Judge Tam ordered that Wong’s new 10-year sentence run concurrently with the remaining term of his previous national security offense. Having spent nearly six years in detention, Wong had originally been scheduled for release in January 2027.
Rights groups condemn verdict as tool to punish dissent
Human rights organizations and exiled figures immediately condemned Thursday’s verdict. Nathan Law released a statement calling it incredibly sad to see his friend suffer another sentence for peaceful advocacy work, adding that the ruling signals Beijing’s determination to quash hopes for freedom on its soil. Amnesty International deputy regional director Sarah Brooks stated that the ruling serves as a grim reminder that the security law operates primarily as a tool to punish dissent.
The implementation of the security legislation has significantly altered Hong Kong's politics. Civil society groups have dissolved, independent media outlets have closed, and the city’s legislature now consists entirely of pro-Beijing loyalists. Most prominent pro-democracy figures remain either imprisoned or in overseas exile.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Joshua Wong Sentencing
What specific charges did Joshua Wong plead guilty to?
Wong pleaded guilty in September to foreign collusion and conspiring with fellow activists to invite foreign sanctions against China and Hong Kong.
Activist Joshua Wong, 30, who became the international face of Hong Kong's democracy movement, was sentenced to 10 years in jail on a charge of collusion with foreign entities under the city's national security law https://t.co/RDnJGCXyt9
How long total will Joshua Wong spend behind bars?
Wong received a 10-year sentence on Thursday, which the judge ordered to run concurrently with the remaining portion of his four-year and eight-month sentence from a 2024 subversion conviction.
Who else was mentioned in the prosecution’s case regarding foreign lobbying?
Prosecutors accused Wong of conspiring with exiled activist Nathan Law and engaging with U.S. politicians, including Nancy Pelosi and Marco Rubio, prior to the national security law’s enactment.
More on Hong Kong
Joshua Wong sentenced to 10 years in prison for his second conviction under a Beijing-imposed national security law. https://t.co/ZXysvJNqKr
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