Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong pleads guilty in 2nd national security case

Prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiracy to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security under a Beijing-imposed law that has effectively stifled the city’s once-thriving pro-democracy movement.

It was the second prosecution of Wong, a former student leader in the pro-democracy movement and one of its most recognizable faces, under the national security law introduced in Hong Kong in 2020 to quell massive anti-government protests that rocked the city the year before.

Wong, who wore a blue shirt, appeared thinner as he entered his plea.

Before the hearing, a supporter shouted “hang in there” to Wong. His friend Louis Lee said Wong read books, studied, learned guitar and exercised in prison, exploring new hobbies and new things behind bars. He said he hoped to see Wong outside prison as soon as possible.

“I believe he and I, or friends outside, we will do our best in our own roles and continue to work hard in our fields,” he said.

Current sentence due to end in January

Wong is expected to be sentenced later. The offence is punishable by a prison term of three to 10 years, or up to life imprisonment if the offence is deemed to be “of a grave nature.” Pleading guilty could typically result in a reduced sentence.

He was already serving a prison term of four years and eight months after entering a guilty plea in a separate national security case linked to an unofficial political primary.

Before the arrest for the collusion-related offense in June 2025, Wong had been expected to be freed next January.

Critics say Wong’s case showed the authorities’ determination to silence prominent dissidents, chilling civic activism. But to Beijing, Wong is an anti-China figure who supports Hong Kong independence, a red line for authorities.

Rose to prominence as student activist

Wong, 29, was accused of conspiring with fellow activist Nathan Law and others to ask foreign countries, or institutions, organizations, or individuals outside China to impose sanctions, blockades or engage in other hostile actions against Hong Kong or China from July 1-Nov. 23, 2020.

In 2012, Wong rose to prominence as a high school student leading protests against the introduction of national education in Hong Kong schools. His fame spread later as a student leader of the 2014 Occupy Movement.

Wong co-founded a political party, “Demosisto,” in 2016 with fellow young activists, including Law, who became the city’s youngest lawmaker that same year.

During the leaderless 2019 protests, Wong helped seek overseas support for the democracy movement, including from the U.S. But Beijing criticized his actions, saying he “begged for interference” by foreign countries.

Demosisto disbanded when Beijing imposed the security law in 2020, which authorities said was necessary for the city’s stability.

Many other leading activists were also jailed under the same law, including former media tycoon Jimmy Lai. Some activists fled to other democratic countries, including the U.S. and the U.K.

Hong Kong authorities separately offered rewards of one million Hong Kong dollars ($176,000 Cdn) for information leading to the arrests of Law, who moved to Britain, and other overseas-based activists.