Hong Kong’s High Court sentenced democracy activist Joshua Wong, 30, to 10 years in prison on Thursday, 5 November 2026, for conspiring to collude with foreign forces under Hong Kong’s Beijing-imposed national security law. The court’s press summary said it “imposed a final sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment”.
Wong pleaded guilty in September 2026. He was charged again in June 2025, accused of conspiring with self-exiled activist Nathan Law and others between 1 July and 23 November 2020 to ask foreign countries and entities to impose sanctions or other hostile measures against Hong Kong and China.
High Court Judge William Tam said, “The punishment must fit the gravity of the crime” (Reuters).
Wong had previously been expected to be freed in January after serving four years and eight months for “subversion” in Hong Kong’s largest national security trial in 2024. He has already spent almost six years behind bars and turned 30 last month. He rose to prominence in Hong Kong’s 2014 Umbrella Movement protests and became internationally known during the 2019 pro-democracy protests.
On Thursday morning, he entered court calmly, nodded to supporters, and after sentencing thanked and waved at supporters. Dozens waited in line for the hearing, while police were heavily deployed outside the court.
Source: Channel NewsAsia, with Reuters reporting.
