Joshua Wong, a long-time leader of Hong Kong's democracy movement, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for colluding with foreign forces under the city's sweeping national security law. The 30-year-old activist, who has been a central figure in local political protests since he was a teenager, appeared in court on Thursday to hear the judgment. The hearing drew a large crowd, with many members of the public queuing for hours to secure a seat in the gallery amid a heavy police presence.
The sentencing follows Wong's guilty plea in September regarding charges that he conspired with other campaigners, including the self-exiled activist Nathan Law, to lobby for foreign sanctions and blockades against Beijing. These activities reportedly occurred between July and November 2020. According to the court, two months and two days of this new 10-year term will be served concurrently with his ongoing sentence for previous convictions related to his activism.
Wong, who has been in custody for the past six years, was previously serving time for subversion and was approaching a scheduled release date early next year before the latest charges were handed down. During Thursday’s proceedings, Wong, dressed in a dark blue long-sleeved shirt and trousers, remained composed, occasionally taking notes as the judge delivered the sentencing decision. Rights groups like Amnesty International have previously described the legal action against Wong as a reflection of the authorities' efforts to suppress prominent dissidents.
Born in 1996, Wong rose to prominence in 2011 when he co-founded the student group Scholarism at the age of 14. He gained significant public recognition in 2012 for leading protests that successfully blocked the implementation of mandatory patriotic education in schools. By 2014, he had become a leading face of the civil disobedience campaign known as the Umbrella Movement, though he frequently downplayed his role as a leader, describing himself as a facilitator in a bottom-up movement.
In 2016, Wong co-founded the political party Demosisto alongside Nathan Law and Agnes Chow. However, the organization disbanded in 2020 following the introduction of the national security law by Beijing. While his colleagues took different paths—with Law moving to the United Kingdom and Chow also entering exile—Wong remained in Hong Kong. He attempted to run for a legislative seat, but authorities barred his candidacy, citing his opposition to the national security law.
The current legal environment in Hong Kong has seen hundreds of campaigners and citizens detained under the 2020 national security legislation. Authorities argue that the law is essential for restoring stability and maintaining order in the city, rejecting claims that it undermines Hong Kong’s autonomy. Conversely, critics argue the law has silenced political dissent. Wong’s 10-year sentence is one of the most severe in the city's recent history, second only to the 20-year sentence handed to media mogul Jimmy Lai for similar collusion charges.
Reflecting on his activism before his latest incarceration, Wong wrote a message to the people of Hong Kong on social media in November 2020. Despite acknowledging his lack of faith in the city's formal political structures at the time, he expressed an enduring confidence in the resilience of Hong Kong's people. As he begins this extended term, the case serves as a definitive chapter in the story of Hong Kong’s decade-long protest movement, which has faced significant institutional and legal challenges in recent years.
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