HONG KONG — Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in prison, his second conviction under Hong Kong’s Beijing-imposed national security law, NPR and the Associated Press reported.
Wong, 30, pleaded guilty in September to conspiracy to collude with foreign forces. Judge William Tam called the offense grave and said he started at 13 years before reducing the sentence for the guilty plea.
Wong is already serving four years and eight months in the city’s biggest national security case, tied to an unofficial primary election. He had been expected to be released in January 2027. The judge said the sentences can run concurrently.
Prosecutors alleged Wong and activist Nathan Law agreed around 2016 to lobby abroad and pointed to Wong’s meetings with U.S. politicians including Nancy Pelosi and Marco Rubio.
Critics say the case shows authorities’ determination to keep prominent activists behind bars. Beijing views Wong as an anti-China figure, and Hong Kong officials say the security law is crucial to the city’s stability.
Wong looked calm and thanked his supporters before leaving court, according to the AP.
Sources: NPR/AP. Thee Arizona Times uses AI-assisted reporting reviewed against the sources listed.
Photo: Wilfredor / CC0 via Wikimedia Commons.
