Hong Kong activist who spent nearly six years in prison sentenced to another ten years
A Hong Kong court has sentenced democratic movement activist Joshua Wong to another ten years in prison on charges of colluding with foreign forces. The activist, who became well-known following the 2019 protests, has spent nearly six years in prison so far.
Hong Kong activist who spent nearly six years in prison given another ten years
A Hong Kong court on Thursday, November 5, sentenced democratic movement activist Joshua Wong to an additional ten years in prison on charges of conspiring with foreign forces. In 2024, he was among dozens of figures convicted of "subverting state power" in the largest national security trial in Hong Kong's history.
Joshua Wong is one of the most prominent participants in Hong Kong's democratic protests. He has spent nearly six years behind bars. In 2024, the activist was sentenced to 4 years and 8 months in prison in the "subverting state power" case. While serving his sentence, a new case was opened against him for "conspiring with foreign forces." In September 2026, Wong pleaded guilty.
The new sentence handed down to Wong demonstrates Beijing's desire to show that it is "holding Hong Kong under tight control and leaving no possibility of returning to the relatively free environment that existed here until 2019," Steve Tsang, director of the China Institute at SOAS University of London, told the AFP agency.
In 2019–2020, a wave of mass protests swept Hong Kong. Protesters opposed Beijing's growing influence in the autonomous territory and the adoption of decisions restricting the civil liberties of its residents. The protests were often accompanied by street riots and clashes with the police.
Against the backdrop of these protests, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress adopted the Hong Kong National Security Law in late June 2020. The law establishes criminal penalties for separatist activities.