By Islam El-Sakka
A Hong Kong court is scheduled to sentence prominent pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong on Thursday for his second conviction under a Beijing-imposed national security law. Wong, 30, pleaded guilty in September to conspiracy to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security, a charge that carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. The hearing is set to begin at 9:30 a.m. and is expected to last 30 minutes.
Background and previous convictions
Wong rose to prominence as a teenager leading 2012 protests against a proposed national education curriculum, forcing the government to shelve the plan. He became a leading figure in the 2014 Umbrella Movement, during which demonstrators occupied major roads for 79 days demanding direct elections. In 2016, he co-founded the political party Demosisto with fellow activist Nathan Law, who became the city’s youngest lawmaker. The party disbanded after the national security law took effect in 2020, and Law left for the United Kingdom while Wong remained in Hong Kong.
In 2021, Wong was among 47 activists charged in the city’s largest national security case for organizing an unofficial primary election. He was sentenced in November 2024 to four years and eight months in prison and had been expected to be released in January 2027.
Second national security case
The new charge, filed in June 2025, alleged that Wong and Law agreed around 2016 to conduct international lobbying for democratic self-determination, including calls for sanctions against Hong Kong and China before the security law was enacted. Prosecutors said Wong continued to support the effort from Hong Kong through foreign media and social media after the law’s introduction, while Law worked from abroad. Wong admitted to the accusations in court in September.
Lawyer seeks leniency
In a plea for a reduced sentence, Wong’s lawyer Derek Chan told the court that his client has spent nearly six years in prison and used the time to read and mature. Chan said Wong hopes to care for his parents upon release. Former Scholarism member Tiffany Chin said Wong was mentally prepared but facing significant psychological pressure.
Political sensitivity and international attention
Despite his imprisonment, Wong remains a politically sensitive figure. In late September, a pro-Beijing newspaper criticized a 2017 Netflix documentary about Wong, “Joshua: Teenager vs. Superpower,” for “beautifying” his crimes. After the government announced follow-up action, the documentary surged to the top of Netflix’s Hong Kong chart. Eric Lai, a research fellow at the Georgetown Center for Asian Law, described the proceedings as “disturbing” and said the second case appeared designed to keep Wong from public view.
Government response
Hong Kong authorities have maintained that law enforcement actions are based on evidence and strictly in accordance with the law, unrelated to political stance. They said the judiciary exercises its power independently and that those charged receive a fair trial.
