OMM Newsroom
Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong was sentenced on Nov. 5 to 10 years in prison after being convicted of colluding with foreign forces under the city’s national security law. He pleaded guilty in September.
According to AnewZ, 30-year-old Wong was accused of working with exiled activist Nathan Law and others to seek international sanctions and other measures against Hong Kong and China. The alleged activities took place from July to November 2020, several months after anti-government protests.
“The sentence must reflect the gravity of the crime,” Judge William Tam said as he delivered the ruling. He said the seriousness of cooperation with foreign forces and conduct that could pose a threat to national security had to be reflected in the sentence.
Although the law was not applied retroactively, the judge said Wong’s earlier meetings with U.S. and European politicians provided relevant context to the case. Prosecutors alleged that Wong and others had encouraged foreign governments and organizations to impose sanctions, blockades and other measures against Hong Kong and China.
Prosecutors also cited the now-defunct political party Demosisto, in whose leadership Wong was involved. The party had called for international measures against the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities.
Wong has been in custody since 2020
One of the best-known figures in Hong Kong’s protest movement, Wong gained international recognition for taking part in pro-democracy demonstrations. His political activism and meetings with Western officials drew criticism from Beijing, whose authorities accused him of working with foreign interests.
Wong has been in custody since November 2020, when he pleaded guilty to organizing an unauthorized assembly and inciting others to take part in it during the 2019 protests. Before the latest sentence, he had been expected to be released next year. At Thursday’s court hearing, Wong appeared in a blue shirt and dark-rimmed glasses, escorted by three guards. Before the judge delivered the sentence, he nodded toward the public gallery.
National security law under international scrutiny
The case concluded as Hong Kong’s national security law and its impact on political activity were being discussed internationally. Beijing enacted the law in June 2020, several months after large-scale unrest in 2019, during which some protests turned violent. Chinese authorities say the law was necessary to protect national security and restore stability.
The sentence against Wong is one of several court proceedings linked to criminal cases involving prominent figures from Hong Kong’s former pro-democracy movement following the 2019 protests.
