Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong sentenced to 10 years

Wong sentenced under security law

Joshua Wong, a prominent Hong Kong activist, was sentenced to ten years in prison Thursday for conspiracy to collude with foreign forces under a Beijing-imposed national security law.

Second conviction in two years

Wong was charged in 2025 with conspiracy to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security. In September, he pleaded guilty to the offense, a move that can typically reduce the sentence.

Already serving earlier sentence

The thirty-year-old is already serving a four-year, eight-month prison term for the city's biggest national security case linked to an unofficial primary. Before this charge, Wong had been expected to be freed in January 2027.

Judge rejected limited role claim

Judge William Tam said Wong's offense was of grave nature and rejected that his role was limited. He considered a thirteen-year sentence as a starting point but reduced it because of Wong's guilty plea.

Prosecution alleged international lobbying

Prosecutors said Wong and fellow activist Nathan Law agreed around 2016 to lobby internationally for democratic self-determination. They pointed to Wong's meetings with U.S. politicians Nancy Pelosi and Marco Rubio in 2016 and 2019.

Crackdown on Hong Kong dissent

Hong Kong once had a vibrant protest and media scene, but after an anti-government movement in 2019, authorities reduced public choice in elections, arrested leading activists, and dozens of civil society groups dissolved.

Observers warn of chilling effect

Eric Lai, a research fellow at Georgetown Center for Asian Law, said national security law charges can be repeatedly weaponized to keep a specific political prisoner in jail if the government deems necessary.

“NSL charges can be repeatedly weaponized to keep a specific political prisoner in jail, if the government deems necessary.”

Sentences may run concurrently

Judge William Tam said Wong could serve his two prison sentences concurrently. Wong only has about two months left on the sentence for his previous national security conviction.