Joshua Wong Prison Sentence: How Many Years Could Hong Kong Activist Face After Guilty Plea?

Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong pleaded guilty on Wednesday to conspiring with fellow activists to seek foreign sanctions and other hostile measures against China and Hong Kong, his second conviction under the city’s National Security Law. The court has not yet announced when it will sentence him.

The offense is punishable by 3 to 10 years’ imprisonment under Article 29 of the National Security Law. As per the law, life imprisonment or a fixed-term of 10 years or more can be given if the court finds that the crime is of a “grave nature”. Generally, a guilty plea will lead to a lesser sentence, but what the exact sentence will be will depend on the court.

Wong, who is 29, already faces a four-year and eight-month prison term for pleading guilty to a separate national security case that is associated with an unofficial political primary election in 2020. He was expected to be released in January 2027, before his arrest in the foreign-collusion case.

The new conviction could extend the time Wong spends in prison beyond his existing sentence. The length of any additional imprisonment will depend on the court’s assessment of the offense and the applicable sentencing rules.

What Is the Charge Against Joshua Wong?

Wong was alleged to have plotted with self-exiled activist Nathan Law and other people to request “sanctions” or “blockades” against Hong Kong or China, or other hostile measures from foreign countries, institutions, organizations or individuals.

The alleged conduct took place between July 1 and Nov. 23, 2020, according to the prosecution. The initial phase started soon after Beijing had imposed the National Security Law on Hong Kong on June 30, 2020.

Under Article 29 of the law, it is illegal to ask or scheme with foreign countries or external organisations to impose sanctions or blockades, or to carry out other hostile acts against Hong Kong or China.

Prosecutors said Wong and Law had sought international support for efforts to pressure Beijing to change its policies toward Hong Kong. Law left Hong Kong and continued his activities overseas, while prosecutors alleged Wong supported the campaign from Hong Kong through media and social media activity.

Wong pleaded guilty before Justice William Tam Yiu-ho at Hong Kong’s High Court. Prosecutors also said Wong shared Law’s online petition urging digital forensic companies to stop cooperating with Hong Kong police after the National Security Law took effect.

What Did Prosecutors Say?

Prosecutors charged Wong with lobbying internationally during the protests against Hong Kong and China in 2019. They referred to actions including U.S. bills on Hong Kong and the possibility for other Western powers to impose sanctions.

The prosecution said Wong continued supporting international lobbying after the National Security Law came into effect in June 2020. According to AP, prosecutors alleged that Wong used foreign media and social media, including by sharing Law’s posts, to draw attention to requests for sanctions, blockades or other hostile measures.

Prosecutors also pointed to Wong’s support for an online petition targeting companies that provided digital forensic technology to Hong Kong police. One company later said it would stop selling digital intelligence products to customers in Hong Kong and China, according to AP.

What Has Joshua Wong Been Sentenced to Already?

Wong is currently serving a four-year-and-eight-month sentence as a result of pleading guilty in the case of the unofficial primary election in 2020.

In the “Hong Kong 47” case, 45 former lawmakers and activists were later found guilty of prison sentences of four to 10 years. Two of the defendants were acquitted. The case was the largest prosecution under the National Security Law involving Hong Kong’s pro-democracy camp.

Wong’s time in custody has been split up into several cases and proceedings, and he is still incarcerated to this day, starting from November 2020.

His arrest in June 2025 was for allegations of foreign collusion during his term of imprisonment.

Why Is the National Security Law Important?

Since the anti-government protests against the Hong Kong government started in 2019, Beijing imposed the Hong Kong National Security Law in June 2020.

The law bans four general types of activity, such as secession, subversion, acts of terrorism and collusion with foreign countries or outside elements and endangering national security. The foreign-collusion offense is dealt with in Article 29, which Wong is charged with.

The law has been applied to well-known pro-democracy activists, including former media mogul Jimmy Lai. Numerous other activists have been arrested, and others have fled Hong Kong.

Wong and Law are co-founders of Demosisto, a political party established in 2016. In 2020, the group was dissolved following Beijing’s imposition of the National Security Law. Wong has also previously been an international star as a young protester in Hong Kong’s Occupy Movement in 2014 and was a prominent voice during the 2019 Protests.

What Was the Reaction to Wong’s Guilty Plea?

Several Western diplomats attended the Sept. 2 hearing. Before proceedings began, a supporter outside the court shouted “Hang in there” to Wong.

His friend Louis Lee said Wong had been reading books, studying, learning guitar and exercising while in prison.

Lee said Wong was devastated when he learned he had been charged under the National Security Law for a second time. “We are very upset because no one would like to spend another day in prison,” he told CNN.

Lee said he hoped to see Wong outside prison as soon as possible. “I believe he and I, or friends outside, we will do our best in our own roles and continue to work hard in our fields,” he said, according to AP.

When Will Joshua Wong Be Sentenced?

Wong’s sentencing date has not been announced. The court will sentence the foreign-collusion charge under the National Security Law. The legal term is between 3 and 10 years, but if the crime is considered to be of a “grave nature”, the law allows it to be sentenced to life imprisonment or a fixed term of at least 10 years.

The guilty plea will factor into the judge’s sentence, but it will not determine how much additional time in prison he receives. Wong remains in custody while awaiting sentencing in the second national security case.