Joshua Wong, the prominent pro-democracy activist from Hong Kong, is set to plead guilty to charges of colluding with foreign forces, which could lead to a life sentence.
On 2 Sep 2026 GMT+7, international news agencies reported that Joshua Wong, the 29-year-old prominent Hong Kong democracy activist, pleaded guilty to national security charges accusing him of colluding with foreign forces. He appeared in court today. Wong has been one of the most high-profile figures in Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement, which has been heavily suppressed by authorities. He faces charges under the national security law imposed by China in Hong Kong in 2020 and was prosecuted in 2025.
Reports indicate that Wong is currently serving nearly five years in prison for subversion and was originally scheduled for release in 2026. He is among dozens of activists convicted in Hong Kong’s largest national security crackdown related to their involvement in an unofficial primary election in 2020. The new charges Wong faces carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Human rights groups consider these additional charges as an attempt by authorities to keep him incarcerated for as long as possible.
Prosecutors allege that in 2020, after the national security law took effect, Wong sought foreign governments, individuals, or organizations to impose sanctions, economic blockades, or hostile actions against Hong Kong and China. He is also accused of conspiring with Nathan Law, an activist in exile abroad, and others to severely obstruct the formulation and enforcement of laws or policies in Hong Kong and China.
Source: The Straitstimes