Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong pleads guilty to collusion

Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong has pleaded guilty to colluding with foreign entities, according to prosecutors. Already serving a nearly five-year sentence for subversion, Wong was set to be released next year but now faces up to life in prison. He was accused of conspiring with others to solicit foreign support for actions against Hong Kong or China between July and November 2020.

Wong rose to prominence in 2014 as a leader of the Occupy Movement, which occupied streets for 79 days. However, Beijing labeled him an advocate of Hong Kong independence who sought foreign interference. His political party, Demosisto, was disbanded after the national security law was enacted in June 2020. Wong was among those arrested in 2021 for participating in an unofficial poll for the 2020 legislative council election.

His activism has been effectively outlawed by Beijing's national security law introduced in Hong Kong that year.