Jailed Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong Chi-fung pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a charge of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security, in a trial held at the Hong Kong High Court. The 29-year-old former secretary-general of the now-disbanded political party Demosisto faces up to life imprisonment under the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s national security law.
The court heard that Wong, along with fellow activist and fugitive former legislator Nathan Law Kwun-chung and others, conspired between July and November 2020 to seek international support for sanctions, blockades, or other hostile measures against Hong Kong and mainland China. The prosecution detailed Wong’s lobbying efforts, which included engaging with foreign politicians such as former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as well as organizing campaigns and giving interviews aimed at encouraging foreign governments and institutions to take punitive actions.
Wong and Law co-founded Demosisto in 2016, a party that advocated for democratic reforms and included separatism among its founding missions. Although Demosisto disbanded hours before the national security law came into effect on June 30, 2020, Wong publicly stated that he would maintain his political stance and continue international engagement.
The case summary underscored various international responses during the period in question, including sanctions imposed by the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany on Chinese and Hong Kong officials, along with the suspension of extradition agreements with Hong Kong by several countries. It also referenced the decision by Israeli digital forensics firm Cellebrite to cease providing services to Hong Kong police following targeted online petitions.
During the proceedings, Wong confirmed his guilty plea, while his defense lawyer requested a sentence ranging between three to ten years, highlighting that Wong has already served nearly six years in prison for other convictions, including subversion. The lawyer argued for leniency to allow Wong “some hope” for the future.
Sentencing has been postponed to an unspecified future date. Wong was originally scheduled for release in January next year in connection with a separate case, but the new conviction could extend his imprisonment. Various human rights organizations have expressed concern that the additional charges and potential life sentence may be intended to keep Wong incarcerated for an extended period.
This trial represents the second national security case brought against Wong since the law was enacted by China’s central government in response to the 2019 pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. The national security law, implemented in 2020, criminalizes acts deemed as secessionist, subversive, terrorist, or collusive with foreign forces, with severe penalties including life imprisonment.