Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong jailed for ten years

Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong was sentenced to ten years in prison on Thursday, according to reports from BBC News, France 24, The Guardian, and the South China Morning Post. France 24, The Guardian, and the South China Morning Post reported that he pleaded guilty to foreign collusion under Beijing's national security law. Wong, who turned 30 last month, is the only activist in Hong Kong to be prosecuted twice under national security legislation, according to The Guardian. [1][2][3][4][6]

The South China Morning Post reported that the High Court handed down the sentence for Wong conspiring with fugitive former lawmaker Nathan Law Kwun-chung and others to lobby Western nations for sanctions against mainland China and Hong Kong. France 24 reported that Wong pleaded guilty in September. The Guardian reported that he has been imprisoned since 2020. [2][3][4]

During the court appearance, BBC News reported that Wong wore a dark blue long-sleeved shirt, khaki trousers, and black-rimmed glasses, and looked slimmer than in previous appearances. He nodded to the public gallery and took notes while the judge read the sentencing reasons. Heavy police were present, and dozens of people queued for hours outside the court for public gallery seats, BBC News reported. [1]

Joshua Wong Chi-fung was previously the convenor and founder of the student activist group Scholarism, and served as secretary-general of the pro-democracy party Demosisto until it disbanded on 30 June 2020 following the implementation of the national security law. He first rose to international prominence during the 2014 Hong Kong protests. [4][11]