Hong Kong Activist Joshua Wong Pleads Guilty to Foreign Collusion Charge

Prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a national security charge of conspiring to seek foreign sanctions against Hong Kong and Beijing. The charge carries a potential penalty of life imprisonment under the national security legislation imposed by China in 2020.

Wong, 29, entered the plea at Hong Kong’s High Court in the Admiralty district. Dressed in a blue shirt and black-rimmed glasses, he waved at supporters as he entered the dock, then stood with his arms behind his back. When the charges were read aloud, Wong stood up and loudly told the judge, “Confirm.” The judge announced that sentencing would occur as soon as possible, though no specific date was set.

Prosecutors told the court that Wong had collaborated with exiled activist Nathan Law to urge foreign nations to impose sanctions, blockades, or engage in other hostile actions against China and Hong Kong. The prosecution stated that Wong continued his lobbying efforts after the national security law came into effect in 2020. They alleged he authored newspaper articles, gave media interviews, posted about meetings on social media, and met with overseas political figures, including former United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Offences under this section of the national security law carry sentences ranging from three to 10 years, but can be elevated to life imprisonment if the court determines the offence is of a grave nature. Pleading guilty in Hong Kong court proceedings typically results in a reduced sentence. Wong is currently the only activist in Hong Kong to face two separate prosecutions under the 2020 security law.

Wong has been held in continuous detention since November 2020, accumulating nearly six years in custody. He is presently serving a prison term of four years and eight months after pleading guilty in 2022 to conspiracy to commit subversion over his participation in an unofficial pro-democracy primary election. Prior to the new charge, his release had been anticipated in January 2027.

Members of the public queued overnight outside the High Court to attend the hearing. An anonymous supporter present in court characterized the plea as a forced reality resulting from an unfair trial process. International rights groups also condemned the proceedings; Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, accused authorities of stacking charges against Wong to ensure he remains imprisoned and silenced.

Wong’s hearing follows the convictions last month of two other Hong Kong activists, Lee Cheuk-yan, 69, and Chow Hang-tung, 41. They were found guilty of inciting subversion after using a political slogan calling for an end to one-party dictatorship during activities linked to an annual vigil commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown.

Background

Joshua Wong rose to international prominence in 2014 as a teenage student leader during Hong Kong’s Umbrella Movement, when demonstrators occupied main roads for 79 days to demand full democracy. In 2016, he co-founded the pro-democracy political party Demosisto, which disbanded in June 2020 on the day Beijing enacted the national security law.

Mass anti-government protests erupted in Hong Kong in 2019 over a proposed extradition bill, leading Beijing to introduce sweeping national security legislation in 2020. Chinese authorities stated the law was necessary to restore political stability to the territory, while critics argue it has been used to systematically suppress political opposition and free speech.