Prominent Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a charge of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces under the territory’s Beijing-imposed National Security Law, joining international sanctions advocacy campaigns and facing a possible life sentence in his second national security prosecution.
Guilty Plea Enters High Court for Second Security Case
Jailed pro-democracy figure Joshua Wong appeared in Hong Kong’s High Court in the district of Admiralty wearing a dark blue shirt and black-rimmed glasses. The 29-year-old activist pleaded guilty before government-approved national security judge William Tam to a single count of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces.
Several Western diplomats attended the courtroom proceedings. Wong jotted notes during the hearing and waved to the public gallery, at one point saying bye bye
before leaving the dock.
The prosecution detailed an international advocacy campaign that spanned years. According to court filings, Wong admitted instigating international sanctions against central and local authorities six years ago. The state alleged that Wong and fugitive former lawmaker Nathan Law conspired to garner foreign backing for a resistance campaign aimed at forcing Beijing to repeal the national security law and grant greater political freedoms to Hongkongers.
Lobbying Efforts, Petitions, and Digital Forensic Supply
State prosecutors outlined specific lobbying actions tied to Wong and his associates, dating back to 2016 when the group sought foreign pressure, blockades, or sanctions against Hong Kong and mainland China. In 2019, Wong expressed support for the review of Washington’s special status for Hong Kong through the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act during a hearing held by the U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China.
After the National Security Law took effect on June 30, 2020, exiled activists continued their overseas lobbying while Wong amplified their efforts locally through social media and foreign media interviews. Prosecutors highlighted Wong sharing an online petition written by Law that urged digital forensic companies to stop cooperating with local police. One Israeli forensic tech firm subsequently announced it would stop selling digital intelligence offerings to customers in Hong Kong and mainland China.
The prosecution also cited work reports written by Wong claiming he helped end the forensic software supply to police and corresponded with foreign enterprises warning them against collaborating with the Chinese government.
Mitigation Arguments and Prior Imprisonment
Wong is already serving a prison term of four years and eight months after pleading guilty in a separate national security case linked to an unofficial political primary held in July 2020. Before his June 2025 arrest for the collusion-related offense, Wong had been expected to be freed next January.
Defence lawyer Derek Chan urged the court to consider a starting point of less than 10 years and reduce the term due to the guilty plea and the delay in bringing the case to trial. Chan asked for a penalty at the upper end of the lower statutory band of three to 10 years, noting that the offense carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if deemed of a grave nature.
Chan told the court that Wong has spent nearly six years behind bars, during which he read hundreds of books, studied, learned guitar, exercised, and matured substantially in his thinking. Wong hoped to take care of his aging parents upon release after having a lengthy opportunity to reflect
on his path.
International Support and Unresolved Sentencing Timeline
International advocacy also expanded outside the courtroom. Freedom House and the R.T. Weatherman Foundation announced a partnership to advocate for Wong’s release, with Freedom House’s Fred Hiatt Program to Free Political Prisoners formally adopting his case.
Judge Tam ended the hearing without setting a definitive date, stating that a sentence would be delivered as soon as possible.
