Hong Kong judge adds decade to Wong sentence

Joshua Wong will spend another ten years in a Hong Kong prison. The court handed down the sentence on Thursday under the national security law imposed by Beijing. Critics argue the ruling marks the latest step in the city's crackdown on its pro-democracy movement.

Wong was charged in 2025 with conspiracy to collude with foreign forces. He pleaded guilty to the offense earlier this year. Judge William Tam ruled that Wong was a mastermind in the scheme. Tam noted that Wong and fellow activist Nathan Law sought contact with senior officials in foreign governments. The judge said they aimed to trigger adverse interference against China and Hong Kong.

The judge pointed to specific actions as evidence of the conspiracy. He cited the US revoking the city's special administrative status. He also mentioned sanctions placed on Chinese and Hong Kong officials. Tam stated these measures matched the hostile actions Wong and Law had requested. The judge reduced a starting sentence of 13 years because Wong accepted a guilty plea. Wong will serve the remaining two months of his first conviction at the same time as the new term.

Wong appeared calm during the proceedings. He thanked supporters before leaving the courtroom. Tiffany Chin, a former leader of the now-disbanded Scholarism group, was in tears outside. In a statement from prison, Wong said his political work was never driven by hatred. He stated that he bears no resentment toward the governments of China or Hong Kong. He added that he never advocated for Hong Kong independence.

Wong said he believed he was acting within the law at the time. He later realized his judgment was wrong. He reported enrolling in university courses and reading hundreds of books during his nearly six years in custody. He described this period as a trial that strengthened his character.

Eric Lai, a research fellow at the Georgetown Center for Asian Law, commented on the ruling. He said the national security law can be weaponized to keep political prisoners in jail. Beijing views Wong as an anti-China figure who supports independence. Hong Kong authorities maintain the law is essential for stability after the 2019 protests. They say their law enforcement actions are based on evidence.

Prosecutors alleged Wong and Law agreed around 2016 to lobby for democratic self-determination. They met foreign politicians and launched petition drives abroad. Wong supported these efforts from Hong Kong using foreign media and social media. His lawyer Derek Chan asked the court for a sentence that gave his client hope. Chan noted Wong wants to care for his parents after release.

Steve Li, chief superintendent of the police national security department, welcomed the ruling. Li urged Wong to reflect on his actions and cultivate a law-abiding spirit. Supporters view Wong as a political star for a generation born before the 1997 handover to China. A pro-Beijing newspaper recently criticized a 2017 Netflix documentary about Wong. The film rose to the top of Netflix's popular chart in Hong Kong following the report. Resident ET Wong said Wong walked a difficult path for the city's future. She stated he should not have spent a single day in wrongful imprisonment.