Prominent Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong pleads guilty in national security case

Prominent pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong in Hong Kong has pleaded guilty in court to a charge of conspiring to collude with foreign forces under the national security law in his second case.

Pleads Guilty in Court

Joshua Wong, a well-known former student leader and pro-democracy activist in Hong Kong, appeared before a judge in his second case under the national security law and pleaded guilty to the charges.

Wong, 29, was seen wearing a blue shirt and appeared to have lost weight during the hearing.

Trial and Sentencing Status

While Wong is expected to be sentenced at a later date, it is noted that the offense carries a prison sentence of three to ten years, which could extend up to life imprisonment in severe cases.

The activist was already serving a four-year and eight-month prison sentence after pleading guilty in a separate national security case regarding an unofficial primary election.

Prosecution Allegations and Activities

The prosecution stated that Wong and fellow activist Nathan Law had agreed years ago to lobby internationally for the right to democratic self-determination.

It was noted that following the enactment of the law, Wong drew international attention and supported calls for sanctions by making posts via foreign and social media.

Past Actions and Political Background

Wong rose to prominence by leading protests against national education in schools in 2012 and was recognized as one of the student leaders of the 2014 Umbrella Movement.

The activist founded the political party Demosisto alongside Law and other young figures in 2016 and sought overseas support for the democracy movement during the 2019 protests.