Joshua Wong pleaded guilty to foreign collusion at Hong Kong's High Court
Joshua Wong pleaded guilty on Wednesday at Hong Kong's High Court to collusion with foreign forces under the 2020 national security law. Prosecutors said the 29 year old conspired with Nathan Law and others to seek sanctions or blockades on Hong Kong or China from July to November 2020. The offence carries three to ten years, or life if deemed of a grave nature. Wong is already serving four years and eight months from an unofficial primary case due to end in January 2027 before his June 2025 arrest.
Geopolitics··Midday
Joshua Wong pleaded guilty at the High Court, with no sentencing date
Joshua Wong pleaded guilty on Wednesday at Hong Kong's High Court to conspiracy to collude with foreign forces under the 2020 national security law. The 29 year old former student leader, one of the recognisable faces of the city's democracy movement, is being prosecuted for a second time under that law. The offence carries three to ten years in prison, or life if the court deems it of a grave nature; a guilty plea typically reduces the sentence. The judge said sentencing would be decided as soon as possible without setting a date. Wong, dressed in a dark blue shirt and dark-rimmed glasses, did not dispute the allegations.[1], [2]
Nathan Law and the 2020 sanctions lobbying sit at the centre of the charge
Prosecutors accused Joshua Wong of conspiring with Nathan Law and others in 2020 to ask foreign countries and institutions to impose sanctions or blockades on Hong Kong or China. The court heard the activities took place between July and November 2020. Al Jazeera, as carried by Euronews, reported that the case cites his meetings with foreign politicians including Nancy Pelosi and Marco Rubio. On Tuesday the court heard that Wong and Law had participated in international lobbying on numerous occasions, including via visits to the US, Germany and Italy. Prosecutors also accused the pair of promoting the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, a US federal law that came into force in November 2019 during Donald Trump's first administration; they were among the leaders who founded the Demosistō party in April 2016.[1], [2]
Wong is already serving four years and eight months and has passed 2,000 days inside
Joshua Wong is already serving four years and eight months from a separate national security case over an unofficial primary, after being convicted of subversion in late 2024. Before the arrest for the collusion offence in June 2025, that term had been due to end in January 2027. The court said Wong would be sentenced at a later date. About 40 of Wong's supporters gathered in court on Tuesday. Tsang Kin-shing said Wong has by now spent more than 2,000 days in prison.[1], [2]
