Hong Kong court orders Joshua Wong to stay in prison for another decade

Ten additional years. That is the prison sentence handed down to Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong on Thursday by a court in the city. The ruling extends his time behind bars well beyond his initial release date, which was set for January.

Wong, 30, had already begun serving a term of four years and eight months after pleading guilty in a major national security case. However, in 2025, authorities charged him with a separate offense: conspiracy to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security. This charge stems from the security law that Beijing imposed in 2020.

Judge William Tam presided over the sentencing. He ruled that Wong and fellow activist Nathan Law worked together with foreign officials and other actors. The judge stated that the two men sought measures against China and Hong Kong. Tam specifically cited the United States revoking Hong Kong's preferential treatment and imposing sanctions on local and Chinese officials as examples of the hostile actions Wong and Law encouraged.

Tam wrote that the punishment must match the gravity of the crime. He noted that the court needed to express the community's dislike of the defendants' scheme to collude with foreign powers. The judge considered a 13-year sentence as a starting point but reduced the term to 10 years because Wong pleaded guilty.

The United States reacted quickly to the verdict. The U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong stated that Wong has been unjustly imprisoned since late 2020. A spokesperson added that the ruling shows Beijing will go to extraordinary lengths to silence those who advocate for fundamental freedoms. The U.S. government called for Wong's immediate release.

During the hearing at the High Court, Wong appeared in a dark shirt. He nodded to supporters in the public gallery and looked calm as the judge read the remarks. Before leaving the room, he told those gathered, "Thank you all." Some supporters waited outside as early as Tuesday to secure a seat. One resident, ET Wong, said he should not have spent a single day in wrongful imprisonment.

In a statement written from prison, Wong said he believed he was acting within the law. He explained that he was not directly advocating for sanctions when he reposted social media content or asked foreign companies to consider stopping business with the Hong Kong police. He admitted he later realized his judgment was wrong. He also noted that he enrolled in university courses and read many books during his nearly six years in custody.

Eric Lai, a senior fellow at the Georgetown Center for Asian Law, observed that much of the alleged activity occurred online. He argued that such expressions would not typically be seen as a major threat to national security in liberal countries. Nathan Law, who is currently wanted by Hong Kong authorities, called the sentencing incredibly sad.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Wong pleaded guilty in the face of overwhelming facts. She stated that the central government supports Hong Kong in upholding national security. Hong Kong leader John Lee described Wong and Law as primary culprits responsible for undermining the city's stability.

Prosecutors alleged that Wong and Law agreed in or around 2016 to lobby internationally for democratic self-determination. After the security law took effect, Law and others met foreign politicians and launched petition drives. Wong supported these efforts from Hong Kong using foreign media and social media to draw attention to the cause. Wong's lawyer, Derek Chan, urged the court to give his client some hope, noting Wong wishes to care for his parents after release.