Hong Kong Activist Joshua Wong Jailed for 10 Years in National Security Case
Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Thursday November 5th 2026. The High Court convicted him of colluding with foreign forces under the national security law. Wong, who turned 30 last month, had pleaded guilty to the charge in September. He was already in jail and had been due for release in January 2027. The new term means he will spend another decade behind bars.
Judge William Tam called the offence grave and said the punishment had to fit the crime. He set a 13-year starting point, then reduced it because of Wong’s guilty plea and mitigation. Only two months and two days of the new sentence will overlap with his existing term. The judge also stressed the need to deter others from similar acts. Wong has been in detention since November 2020.
Court Finds that Wong and Nathan Law Pushed for Foreign Sanctions Against Beijing
Prosecutors said Wong conspired with exiled activist Nathan Law and others to seek foreign pressure on China. They allegedly urged other countries to impose sanctions, blockades or similar hostile measures. The offences were placed between July 1 and November 23, 2020. Both men had co-founded Demosisto, a pro-democracy party that is now disbanded. The court heard that Wong backed the campaign from Hong Kong through foreign media and social media.
The prosecution also pointed to lobbying trips to Washington and meetings with US politicians. These included Nancy Pelosi, then House Speaker, and Marco Rubio, who was a senator at the time. Judge Tam said the pair carried on with their calls even after the law took effect. He cited the US decision to end Hong Kong’s special trade treatment and its sanctions on officials. However, Wong told the court he never backed independence and never took foreign funding.
Rights Groups Condemn the Ruling as Wong Becomes the Only Activist Tried Twice
Wong is the only activist in the city to be prosecuted twice under the security law. His earlier conviction came from the “47 case”, which is Hong Kong’s largest prosecution under the Beijing-imposed National Security Law, targeting pro-democracy figures over an unofficial 2020 primary election. In November 2024, he received a prison term of four years and eight months for that case. By comparison, media tycoon Jimmy Lai, received a 20-year sentence in February for similar foreign collusion. Dozens of supporters queued for hours outside the court, and police kept a heavy presence nearby. Human Rights Watch called the sentence cruel and unjust, saying authorities appear to be stacking charges against key leaders. Amnesty International said the law is being used to punish dissent rather than protect security.
However, Chief Executive John Lee, named Wong and Law as primary culprits behind damage to the city’s stability. National security police chief Steve Li also welcomed the verdict and urged Wong to respect the law. In a mitigation letter, Wong said his activism was never driven by hatred and that he hopes to care for his ageing parents. Ultimately, Wong’s second sentence shows how far the national security law reaches, even into the lives of those already jailed. For supporters, it signals that few openings remain for public dissent in Hong Kong. For the government, it is proof of its resolve to protect stability. The case will keep shaping debate over the city’s autonomy and its place in global politics.
Web Resources on Joshua Wong National Security Case
1. BBC : Joshua Wong, face of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests, jailed for 10 years.
2. Reuters : Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong gets 10 years in jail on national security charge.
3. The Guardian : Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong sentenced to 10 years in prison in national security case.
4. CNN : Hong Kong democracy campaigner Joshua Wong handed another 10 years in jail.
5. AP News : Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong sentenced to 10 more years in prison.