Jailed HK activist Joshua Wong pleads guilty to foreign collusion
Wong, 29, is already in prison on subversion charges under the controversial National Security Law.
Joshua Wong, a leading figure in Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement, has entered a guilty plea to a charge of foreign collusion, an offense under Beijing's extensive National Security Law (NSL) that carries a potential life sentence.
Wong, 29, widely recognized as a symbol of political activism in Hong Kong, is currently serving a four-year, eight-month sentence for subversion, another NSL violation, for which he was convicted in late 2024. His previous sentence was set to conclude early next year.
Wong played a prominent role in the 2014 Umbrella Movement and the large-scale pro-democracy demonstrations of 2019.
The current charge alleges that Wong conspired with other activists, including Nathan Law, who is in exile, to urge foreign nations and entities outside of China to implement sanctions or blockades against Beijing. This information comes from court documents reviewed by Reuters. These actions reportedly occurred between July and late November 2020, according to the charge sheets.
The year 2020 marked the introduction of the contentious NSL by China, a law that critics contend has fostered an atmosphere of fear and suppressed dissent in Hong Kong. Conversely, authorities in Beijing and Hong Kong assert that the law is essential for maintaining stability and deny that it has eroded autonomy.
On Tuesday, approximately 40 of Wong's supporters, including fellow activists and close friends, assembled at the court. Some were heard shouting, "Hang in there, Joshua!" From the dock, Wong, dressed in a dark blue shirt, was observed smiling and nodding in acknowledgment.
Tsang Kin-shing, a former member of the now-disbanded League of Social Democrats, expressed hope for a lenient sentence, highlighting that Wong has already spent over 2,000 days incarcerated.
Fellow activist Louis Lee conveyed the disappointment felt by Wong and his supporters regarding the imposition of an additional NSL charge while he was already serving a prison sentence.
Despite his imprisonment, Wong has pursued new interests, such as learning to play the guitar and engaging in exercise. Lee remarked, "I hope everyone can learn from him."