
Incarceration period extended from release scheduled for January next year
AI-generated summary
Joshua Wong made his name known by leading the movement against national education in 2012, and was a leading figure in the Hong Kong Umbrella Revolution in 2014. He was sentenced to prison several times on charges related to anti-government protests in 2019, and has been imprisoned since November 2020. He was sentenced to 4 years and 8 months in prison in November 2024 on charges of conspiring to overthrow the national government in connection with the 2020 unofficial primary election for the democratic camp.
A court sentenced Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong (30) to 10 years in prison for violating the National Security Act.
According to Reuters and Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) on the 5th, the Hong Kong High Court sentenced Joshua Wong, who was indicted on charges of collusion with foreign countries under the National Security Act, to 10 years in prison.
Judge William Tam said, "The punishment must be commensurate with the seriousness of the crime. The court needs to express society's disgust with the defendant's plans and actions to endanger national security by colluding with foreign powers or external forces."
Joshua Wong, who is already in prison, was additionally indicted on charges of conspiring with pro-democracy activist Nathan Law, who was in exile abroad, to request foreign governments and organizations to impose sanctions, blockades, or other hostile measures against China and Hong Kong from July to November 2020.
Last September, he pleaded guilty to the charges but said he had never called for Hong Kong independence or regime change in mainland China.
Wong, who appeared in court today wearing a blue shirt, dark-rimmed glasses and short hair, nodded several times to the audience before sentencing, Reuters reported.
Wong, who made a name for himself by leading a movement against the introduction of Chinese-style national education in Hong Kong schools in 2012 when he was a teenager, emerged as a leading figure in the so-called "Hong Kong Umbrella Revolution" in 2014, demanding a direct election of chief executive.
Since then, he has been sentenced to prison several times on charges of illegal assembly related to anti-government protests in 2019, and has been imprisoned since November 2020.
Regarding the 2020 unofficial primary election for the democratic camp, he was sentenced to 4 years and 8 months in prison in November 2024 after admitting charges of conspiring to overthrow the national regime under the National Security Act.
He was scheduled to be released in January of next year, but his incarceration period was extended with this sentence.
International human rights groups and Western countries are watching how the national security law works in Hong Kong, a former British colony.
In February of this year, Jimmy Lai, a Hong Kong media tycoon and pro-democracy figure, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on charges of collusion with foreign forces and incitement, sparking criticism from the international community.
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Joshua Wong's prison term will be extended beyond January next year
Very likely · Within months
International human rights groups and Western countries will continue to monitor and criticize the application of the national security law in Hong Kong.
Likely · Within months

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