Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong sentenced to 10 more years

Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong was sentenced to an additional 10 years in prison on Thursday for allegedly colluding with foreign powers, according to court proceedings. The 30-year-old, who gained international recognition during the 2014 Umbrella Movement protests, has been in jail for nearly six years. Originally, Wong was expected to be released in January after serving four years and eight months for subversion under the Beijing-imposed national security law.

However, Hong Kong authorities used the same law to charge him again in June 2025, accusing him of seeking sanctions against Hong Kong and China from other countries and entities. Wong pleaded guilty in September. The sentencing drew protests from rights groups, who called the charge a deliberate attempt to keep Wong incarcerated.

Wong's lawyer had argued for a shorter sentence of three to 10 years, citing the time already served. Wong's supporters expressed their disappointment and concern about the impact of the prolonged imprisonment on the activist, who remains determined to defend Hong Kong's democracy.