Hong Kong, 5 Nov. (LaPresse/AP) – The well-known Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong has been sentenced to 10 years in prison following his second conviction under a national security law imposed by Beijing. A case which, according to some observers, reflects the crackdown on the pro-democracy movement that once flourished in the city. In 2025, Wong was charged with conspiracy to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security, in breach of that legislation. In September, the activist pleaded guilty to the offence, for which he faces a sentence ranging from three years to life imprisonment; a guilty plea usually results in a reduced sentence. The 30-year-old activist is already serving a sentence of four years and eight months’ imprisonment in connection with the city’s most high-profile national security case, linked to unofficial primary elections. According to observers, the verdict against Wong demonstrates the authorities’ determination to keep leading activists in prison for as long as possible. The authorities, for their part, maintain that the actions taken by the city’s law enforcement agencies are based on concrete evidence.
Hong Kong: activist Joshua Wong sentenced to 10 years in prison
Hong Kong, 5 Nov. (LaPresse/AP) – The well-known Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong has been sentenced to 10 years in prison following his second conviction under a national security law imposed by Beijing. A case which, according to some observers, reflects the crackdown on the pro-democracy movement that once flourished in the city. In 2025, Wong was charged with conspiracy to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security, in breach of that legislation. In September, the activist pleaded guilty to the offence, for which he faces a sentence ranging from three years to life imprisonment; a guilty plea usually results in a reduced sentence. The 30-year-old activist is already serving a sentence of four years and eight months’ imprisonment in connection with the city’s most high-profile national security case, linked to unofficial primary elections. According to observers, the verdict against Wong demonstrates the authorities’ determination to keep leading activists in prison for as long as possible. The authorities, for their part, maintain that the actions taken by the city’s law enforcement agencies are based on concrete evidence.