Wong entered a guilty plea in September for collaborating with self-exiled activist Nathan Law and others to advocate for foreign blockades and sanctions. The presiding judge ordered only two months and two days of the fresh decade-long sentence to run concurrently with his existing subversion prison term. Hundreds of individuals have faced arrest under the sweeping 2020 legislation, which authorities defend as vital for local stability but critics condemn as an instrument to crush dissent.
Key points
The lengthy sentence abruptly halts Wong's previously expected release early next year an…: The lengthy sentence abruptly halts Wong's previously expected release early next year and extends his six-year detention.
Critics and human rights groups maintain that the national security law serves primarily…: Critics and human rights groups maintain that the national security law serves primarily to silence dissent and detain prominent activists.
Wong's legal troubles follow a decade of political campaigning that included leading the…: Wong's legal troubles follow a decade of political campaigning that included leading the Scholarism group and co-founding the Demosisto party.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
- Published
Joshua Wong, once the face of Hong Kong's democracy movement, has been sentenced to 10 years in jail for colluding with foreign forces under the city's sweeping national security law.
Wong, 30, is among hundreds of campaigners and ordinary Hongkongers arrested under the law, which was imposed in 2020 following explosive pro-democracy protests against Beijing's growing control.
Critics say the far-reaching law has silenced dissent, but authorities argue that it is needed to maintain stability and deny it has weakened the city's cherished autonomy.
Wong, who has been in custody for the last six years, has already been imprisoned multiple times for his activism which started when he was a teen.
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On Thursday, Wong arrived in court wearing a dark blue long-sleeved shirt, khaki trousers and black-rimmed glasses. He looked slimmer compared to his previous public appearances.
He nodded in greeting towards members of the packed public gallery,…
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