HONG KONG: One of Hong Kong’s best-known democracy activists, Joshua Wong, was sentenced to 10 more years in jail on Thursday (Nov 5) for collusion with foreign powers.
“The court … imposed a final sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment” on Joshua Wong, a press summary released by court said.
Wong, who became internationally renowned during huge protests that convulsed the Chinese territory, has already spent almost six years behind bars and turned 30 last month.
The former student leader was previously expected to be freed in January after serving four years and eight months for “subversion” under a Beijing-imposed national security law.
But Hong Kong authorities used the same law to charge Wong again in June 2025, accusing him of asking other countries and entities to impose sanctions against the finance hub and China.
Wong pleaded guilty in September.
On Thursday morning, Wong entered the court looking calm in a blue shirt and black glasses, nodding to supporters and scanning the public and reporters.
After the sentencing, Wong thanked and waved at his supporters as he left. They were heard saying: “We’ll be waiting for your release.”
Dozens of people waited in line for the hearing, while the police deployed heavily outside the court building.
“Beijing has identified Joshua as one of the key leaders of what they see as an open rebellion in 2019 – despite Wong being one of the moderates – and he will be made an example of,” Steve Tsang, director of the China Institute at SOAS University of London, told AFP.
His sentencing is set to show Beijing “is keeping a tight rein over Hong Kong and there’s no scope for turning back to the more relaxed days before 2019”, Tsang added before the sentence was announced.
Rights groups have decried the collusion charge against Wong as a deliberate attempt by authorities to keep him incarcerated.
