Joshua Wong, a prominent figure in the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement, admitted guilt on Wednesday to a charge of conspiracy to collaborate with foreign entities to endanger national security. This marks Wong’s second prosecution under the national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020, following the city’s massive anti-government protests in the previous year.
Appearing in court wearing a blue shirt, Wong looked noticeably thinner as he entered his plea. Prior to the hearing, a supporter encouraged him with words of support, while Wong’s friend, Louis Lee, shared that Wong had been engaging in various activities such as reading, studying, playing the guitar, and working out while in prison. Lee expressed hope for Wong’s release and their continued efforts in their respective fields.
Wong is currently awaiting sentencing, with the offense carrying a prison term ranging from three to 10 years, or potentially life imprisonment for severe cases. His guilty plea comes while serving a four-year and eight-month sentence for a previous national security case related to an unofficial political primary. Originally expected to be released in January, Wong’s situation has sparked criticism from those who view his prosecution as an attempt to suppress dissent, contrasting with Beijing’s perspective of him as an anti-China figure advocating for Hong Kong independence.
The charges against Wong include allegations of conspiring with activist Nathan Law and others to solicit foreign entities to impose sanctions or take hostile actions against Hong Kong or China between July 1 and November 23, 2020. Wong gained prominence in 2012 for leading protests against national education in Hong Kong schools as a high school student, later becoming a key figure in the 2014 Occupy Movement and co-founding the political party “Demosisto” in 2016 with Law and other young activists.
Throughout the 2019 protests, Wong played a role in seeking international support for the pro-democracy movement, drawing criticism from Beijing for allegedly seeking foreign interference. Demosisto disbanded following the implementation of the security law in 2020, with many activists, including media tycoon Jimmy Lai, facing imprisonment under its provisions. Some activists have fled to democratic nations like the U.S. and the U.K., while Hong Kong authorities have offered rewards for information leading to the arrest of Law and other activists residing overseas.