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Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong received an additional 10-year prison sentence on Thursday after a court found him guilty of colluding with foreign powers. The ruling means Wong, who turned 30 last month, faces spending much of his thirties behind bars.
A Second Charge Under the Security Law
Wong had already served nearly six years in prison and was originally expected to walk free in January. However, Hong Kong authorities charged him again in June 2025 under Beijing’s national security law. Prosecutors accused him of urging foreign governments and international bodies to impose sanctions on Hong Kong and China. Wong pleaded guilty in September.
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Thursday’s court summary confirmed the sentence: “The court imposed a final sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment” on Joshua Wong. He is now the only person among Hong Kong’s major national security defendants to face charges twice under the same law.
A Calm Arrival, a Grateful Farewell
Wong entered the courtroom that morning wearing a blue shirt and black glasses. He appeared calm and nodded to supporters before scanning the public gallery and press. After the judge delivered the sentence, Wong waved to his supporters as officers led him away. Those gathered called out: “We’ll be waiting for your release.”
Dozens of people queued outside the court building for the hearing. Police deployed heavily around the area throughout the morning.
A Symbol of Hong Kong’s Pro-Democracy Movement
Wong first gained international attention during Hong Kong’s 2014 Umbrella Movement protests. Since then, he has faced repeated prosecutions and spent significant time in custody. In 2024, authorities jailed him alongside dozens of other pro-democracy figures in Hong Kong’s largest national security trial. Several of his co-defendants have since completed their sentences and returned to civilian life.
Authorities said Wong began lobbying foreign governments as early as 2016, promoting legislation in the United States that would allow sanctions in response to human rights violations in Hong Kong. In 2019, he joined a delegation to Washington to support that bill, which eventually became law. That same year, massive pro-democracy protests swept Hong Kong. The following year, Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law on the city, prompting opposition groups to disband and many activists to flee.
Steve Tsang, director of the China Institute at SOAS University of London, told AFP that Beijing views Wong as a key figure in what it considers an open rebellion. “He will be made an example of,” Tsang said. He also noted the sentence signals that Beijing “is keeping a tight rein over Hong Kong and there’s no scope for turning back to the more relaxed days before 2019.”
Supporters Express Concern and Grief
Wong’s lawyer had argued for a shorter term of three to 10 years, citing time already served. Meanwhile, a close friend, Louis Lee, described Wong as remaining “energetic” in prison but sometimes “worried and nervous” ahead of sentencing.
Margaret Chan, a 61-year-old retiree and long-time supporter, told AFP the outcome was “truly heartbreaking.” She added: “He will be in his middle age by the time he is released.”
