Prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong has pleaded guilty to a charge of colluding with foreign entities, an offense under Beijing's National Security Law that carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Wong, 29, is already serving a sentence of four years and eight months for subversion, another violation of the National Security Law, which was handed down in late 2024 and was scheduled to conclude early next year.
The current charge alleges that Wong conspired with other activists, including exiled figure Nathan Law, to solicit sanctions or blockades against Beijing from foreign countries and entities outside China. Court documents indicate these alleged activities took place between July and late November 2020. This period followed the introduction of the National Security Law in 2020, a law that critics argue has curtailed dissent and created a climate of fear in Hong Kong. Authorities in Beijing and Hong Kong maintain the law is essential for stability and does not undermine the city's autonomy.
Wong, who was a key figure in the 2014 Umbrella Movement and the 2019 pro-democracy protests, appeared in court Tuesday. Approximately 40 supporters, including fellow activists and friends, were present. From the dock, Wong reportedly smiled and nodded in response to shouts of encouragement from the gallery. Tsang Kin-shing, a former member of the now-disbanded League of Social Democrats, expressed hope for a lenient sentence, noting Wong has already spent over 2,000 days in custody. Another activist, Louis Lee, stated that Wong and his supporters were disheartened by the imposition of a new National Security Law charge while he was already incarcerated.
While in prison, Wong has reportedly taken up new interests, including learning guitar and exercising. Lee remarked on Wong's resilience, stating, "I hope everyone can learn from him."