Prominent Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong has admitted guilt on Wednesday to conspiring with foreign forces to endanger national security, as per a law imposed by Beijing that has stifled the city’s pro-democracy movement. This marks the second time Wong, a former student leader in the pro-democracy movement, has faced prosecution under the national security law implemented in Hong Kong in 2020 to suppress massive anti-government protests from the previous year.
Appearing in court wearing a blue shirt, Wong looked noticeably thinner as he entered his plea. Ahead of the hearing, a supporter encouraged Wong with a shout of “hang in there.” His friend, Louis Lee, shared that Wong had been engaging in various activities like reading, studying, playing the guitar, and exercising while in prison. Lee expressed hope for Wong’s release from prison at the earliest opportunity.
Wong’s sentencing is scheduled for a later date. The offense carries a potential prison term of three to 10 years, or even life imprisonment if deemed “of a grave nature.” Typically, pleading guilty could lead to a reduced sentence. Wong is already serving a four-year and eight-month prison term after pleading guilty in a separate national security case related to an unofficial political primary.
Critics view Wong’s case as a sign of authorities’ efforts to silence prominent dissidents, dampening civic activism. Beijing perceives Wong as an anti-China figure advocating for Hong Kong independence, a stance considered a red line by the authorities.
Accused at the age of 29 of conspiring with activist Nathan Law and others to solicit foreign entities to take hostile actions against Hong Kong or China in 2020, Wong gained recognition in 2012 for leading protests against national education in Hong Kong schools as a high school student. He later became a prominent figure during the 2014 Occupy Movement as a student leader.
In 2016, Wong co-established the political party “Demosisto” with young activists, including Law, who became the city’s youngest lawmaker that same year. Amid the 2019 protests, Wong played a role in seeking international support for the democracy movement, attracting criticism from Beijing for allegedly seeking foreign interference.
Demosisto disbanded following the imposition of the security law in 2020, deemed necessary by authorities for the city’s stability. Several other prominent activists, such as media tycoon Jimmy Lai, were also imprisoned under the law. Some activists opted to flee to democratic countries like the U.S. and the U.K.
Additionally, Hong Kong authorities have offered rewards of one million Hong Kong dollars ($176,000 Cdn) for information leading to the capture of Law and other activists based overseas who have left Hong Kong.