Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for conspiring to collude with foreign forces. His latest sentence comes just as Wong was set to be released in January 2027.
The 30-year-old was convicted under the national security law imposed by Beijing on Hong Kong. The sentence was handed down by the High Court on Thursday and it is one of the harshest punishments imposed under the law.
Some protesters also went on hunger strikes . The government eventually shelved the proposed curriculum. He gave speeches and public appearances which made him one of the leading faces of the campaign. Unlike some other activists, Wong did not openly demand independence for Hong Kong. Instead, he continued to advocate political reform and greater autonomy. They used umbrellas to protect themselves from police pepper spray , giving the movement its name. Wong became one of its most visible representatives, alongside fellow student leaders Nathan Law and Alex Chow. However, the campaign failed to secure concessions from China’s leadership or Hong Kong’s pro-Beijing authorities. The movement also came at a personal cost for its leaders. Wong and several other activists faced prosecutions for their participation in the demonstrations. He met political leaders in countries including Taiwan , Germany and the United States . He also urged American lawmakers to support legislation concerning Hong Kong’s political freedoms and called for sanctions against China. Wong has faced repeated arrests and prison sentences for his activism. The court considered Wong’s interviews with foreign media, social media posts and contacts with overseas officials as part of the case. He pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiring to collude with foreign forces. However, Hong Kong police defended the sentence. The case has drawn criticism from observers who view it as another example of the authorities’ crackdown on the city’s once-vibrant pro-democracy movement. He pleaded guilty to the charge in September, a step that can generally lead to a reduced sentence.
In 2012, Wong led a campaign against the introduction of a pro-China national education curriculum in Hong Kong schools. The movement, organised through the student group Scholarism, drew 120000 people to the government headquarters. Wong later became internationally known for his role in the 2014 Umbrella Movement. He also co-founded the political party Demosisto in 2016, which called for self-determination, arguing that Hong Kong residents should have a say in deciding the city’s political future. The Umbrella Movement emerged in 2014 as thousands of people took to the streets of Hong Kong to demand greater democracy and the right to directly elect the city’s leader. Protesters occupied major roads for 79 days in a campaign also known as Occupy Central. Wong continued his political activities after the 2014 protests. During the large anti-government demonstrations in 2019, he played a less prominent role on the streets but sought support from overseas governments and politicians. In 2024, he received a four-year-and-eight-month sentence in a separate national security case linked to his role in an unofficial primary in 2020. In 2025, prosecutors brought another case against him, alleging that he had conspired with exiled activist Nathan Law and others between July and November 2020 to seek foreign sanctions, a blockade or other hostile actions against Hong Kong or Chinese authorities. Earlier reporting noted: Prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Thursday after being convicted for a second time under Beijing-imposed national security legislation. Earlier reporting noted: Wong was charged in 2025 with conspiring to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security under the legislation. Earlier reporting noted: The 30-year-old activist is already serving a four-year-and-eight-month prison term in connection with Hong Kong’s largest national security case, which stemmed from an unofficial primary election. He had earlier been expected to complete that sentence and walk free in January 2027 before facing the latest prosecution.
Chief Superintendent Steve Li of the National Security Department called it “proper” and said he would discuss possible next steps with the Department of Justice.
Beijing criticised his international outreach, accusing him of seeking foreign interference. The legislation led to the imprisonment of several former opposition lawmakers and activists. Demosisto was disbanded after the law came into effect. Wong’s imprisonment has also changed his relationship with supporters and fellow activists. Friends and former colleagues say he has continued reading, taking university courses and learning guitar while in prison. In a letter written in September, Wong reflected on the fear he had experienced in recent years and referred to the Bible verse: “There is no fear in love. As he was escorted out of the courtroom after Thursday’s hearing, Wong waved and nodded to supporters. Some had waited outside for two days to secure a place in the courtroom.
The 2019 demonstrations, which were large and at times violent, became a turning point in Hong Kong’s political landscape. Beijing imposed a national security law on June 30, 2020, saying it was necessary to restore stability and order.
Wong had earlier written that he would “continue to defend my home — Hong Kong — until they silence me and eliminate me from this land”. His friend Louis Lee, who visits him regularly, said Wong had remained curious and continued trying to understand the world around him. They were heard saying: “We’ll be waiting for your release.” (With inputs from agencies)
Judge William Tam said the offence was serious, but reduced the actual sentence of 13 years by three years after considering the relevant factors. The case is part of a wider crackdown on pro-democracy activists following the mass protests that shook Hong Kong in 2019. Joshua Wong was born to a Christian middle-class family in 1996. At 13, he joined protests against plans for a high-speed rail link connecting Hong Kong with mainland China. By the age of 15, he had become a prominent student activist . His latest 10-year sentence means he will remain in prison well beyond the release date he had expected.
Wong had already spent almost six years behind bars and was expected to be released in January after serving an earlier sentence. Wong pleaded guilty to the charge this year; however, the court rejected the defence’s argument that his role in the alleged conspiracy was limited. Wong was one of the most recognisable faces of the movement and gained international attention for his role in student-led campaigns against the authorities. He grew up during the political transition period of Hong Kong. Wong was very young when the territory was handed over to China. His involvement in activism began at an early age. Wong’s sentencing has drawn criticism from international figures and human rights organisations.
US Representative John Moolenaar, chairman of the House Select Committee on China, called the collusion charge against Wong “baseless” and urged his immediate release. Amnesty International ’s Deputy Regional Director Sarah Brooks said the sentence showed how the national security law had become “a tool to punish dissent rather than to genuinely protect national security.”
