Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong has admitted guilt to a charge of conspiring with foreign forces to jeopardize national security under a law imposed by Beijing. This marks Wong’s second legal battle under the national security law, which was implemented in 2020 following significant protests in the city.
Appearing in court wearing a blue shirt, Wong seemed thinner as he entered his plea. Prior to the hearing, a supporter encouraged him with words of support, while his friend Louis Lee shared that Wong had been engaging in various activities such as reading, studying, playing the guitar, and exercising while in prison. Lee expressed hope for Wong’s early release.
Wong’s current term is set to conclude in January, with potential sentencing for the recent offence ranging from three to 10 years in prison, or even life imprisonment for severe cases. By pleading guilty, Wong could potentially receive a reduced sentence. He is already serving a sentence of four years and eight months after a previous guilty plea in a different national security case linked to an unofficial political primary.
Critics argue that Wong’s situation underscores the authorities’ efforts to suppress dissent, dampening civic engagement. However, Beijing views Wong as an anti-China advocate supporting Hong Kong independence, a stance deemed unacceptable by the authorities.
Wong, now 29, was accused of colluding with fellow activist Nathan Law and others to solicit foreign entities to take actions against Hong Kong or China between July 1 and November 23, 2020. He gained prominence in 2012 for leading protests against national education in Hong Kong schools as a high school student, followed by his involvement in the 2014 Occupy Movement as a student leader.
In 2016, Wong co-established the political party “Demosisto” along with young activists like Law, who later became the city’s youngest lawmaker. During the leaderless 2019 protests, Wong sought international support for the democracy movement, drawing criticism from Beijing for allegedly seeking foreign intervention.
Demosisto disbanded following the imposition of the security law in 2020, with several other activists, including media mogul Jimmy Lai, also facing imprisonment under the same legislation. Some activists opted to flee to democratic nations such as the U.S. and the U.K. Additionally, Hong Kong authorities have offered monetary rewards for information leading to the arrests of Law and other activists residing abroad.