Jailed HK activist Joshua Wong pleads guilty to foreign collusion
Jailed HK activist Joshua Wong pleads guilty to foreign collusion
Key Highlights
- Prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy campaigner Joshua Wong has pleaded guilty to collusion with foreign entities, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of life in prison under Beijing's sweeping National Security Law (NSL).
- The 29-year-old, who has become the poster child for political activism in Hong Kong, is already serving a sentence of four years and eight months after being convicted of subversion – another NSL violation – in late 2024.
- The court said Wong would be sentenced at a later date.
Joshua Wong, a prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy campaigner, has pleaded guilty to collusion with foreign entities, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of life in prison under Beijing's National Security Law.
The 29-year-old, who has become the face of political activism in Hong Kong, is already serving a four-year and eight-month sentence for subversion, another NSL violation, which he received in late 2024. His earlier jail term is set to end early next year.
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Wong forefront umbrella movement 2014
Wong was at the forefront of the Umbrella Movement in 2014 and massive pro-democracy protests in 2019. The latest charge accuses him of conspiring with other campaigners, including exiled activist Nathan Law, to ask foreign countries and entities outside China to impose sanctions or blockades against Beijing.
Prosecutors say Wong and Law participated in "international lob The law has been criticized for creating a climate of fear and quashing dissent in Hong Kong.
Beijing and Hong Kong authorities argue the law is necessary to maintain stability and deny it has weakened autonomy. Wong and Law are among several leaders who founded the pro-democracy party Demosistō in April 2016, and ran for the Hong Kong Legislative Council elections that year.
Prosecutors also accused Wong of promoting the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, a US federal law that came into force in November 2019. The Act compels the US government to impose sanctions against mainland China and Hong Kong officials if they are deemed responsible for human rights abuses in Hong Kong.
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About 40 of Wong's supporters gathered in court on Tuesday, with some shouting "Hang in there, Joshua!" as he smiled and nodded in response from the dock. Fellow activist Louis Lee said Wong and his supporters were disheartened that he was handed another NSL charge while already serving time in prison.
Wong has continued seeking out new interests while in prison, including learning how to play the guitar and working out. "I hope everyone can learn from him," Lee says.
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I write about the forces shaping business and the global economy, from startup growth and changing markets to international trade and policy. My work focuses on breaking down complex developments into clear, practical insights and understanding what they could mean for businesses, investors, and the wider economy.
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