Joshua Wong Gets 10 Years in Second National Security Sentence

Joshua Wong, who rose to global prominence as a teenage student leader, received a 10-year prison sentence on Thursday for a second violation of Hong Kong's national security laws. The judge in the case, William Tam, called the conviction grave and stated that the punishment must reflect the severity of the crime. Wong will serve this new term after his current sentence ends, extending his time behind bars well into his thirties.

The conviction stems from charges that Wong conspired with other activists to invite foreign sanctions against China and the city in 2020. Prosecutors argued that the group lobbied the United States and other nations to impose economic penalties before and after Beijing enacted the National Security Law. They cited social media campaigns and meetings with U.S. politicians, including then-Senator Marco Rubio and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, as evidence of the conspiracy.

Wong has been in custody since 2020. He previously pleaded guilty in a landmark subversion trial in 2024, resulting in a sentence of four years and eight months. He was scheduled for release in January of this year. The new sentence effectively resets his timeline, meaning he will enter middle age while incarcerated. The 2024 trial was the largest prosecution of pro-democracy figures under the new security laws, involving 47 defendants.

Judge Tam noted that Wong and his co-conspirators continued to promote calls for sanctions through Western news outlets and social media accounts even after the law was implemented. The judge said the court needed to express the community's abhorrence at the actions, despite acknowledging the heavy weight of the penalty. China's leaders have previously labeled Wong and similar activists as separatists.

A crowd gathered outside the court near the financial district to witness the sentencing. Some supporters had camped out for two nights prior. ET Wong, a local housewife who followed the activist's career since his youth, said he should not have been in jail for a single day. Activist Lui Yuk-lin held a card with Wong's name, describing him as a child in her heart despite his age.

Wong, wearing a navy shirt and black-framed glasses, nodded to supporters as he entered the gallery. His friend Louis Lee shared letters written by Wong after his September guilty plea. In one letter, Wong described his feelings as so-so and difficult to articulate. He quoted the First Epistle of John, stating that there is no fear in love, and said the fear he had experienced made him appreciate his friends and the city more.

Wong first led protests at age 15 to stop a civic education curriculum he viewed as propaganda. He later co-founded the Demosisto party in 2016. The party dissolved hours after the National Security Law was passed. Authorities have since disbanded many civil groups and shut down independent media outlets. The city's legislature now consists solely of pro-Beijing loyalists, while many democracy figures remain in jail or exile.