Hong Kong Lawmakers Lash Out at Foreign Critics After Joshua Wong Gets Another 10 Years in Prison

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Legco Hits Back at Critics

On Saturday, Hong Kong's Legislative Council (Legco) issued a statement rejecting criticism from abroad. It accused foreign governments of "defaming and smearing" the city's courts and its national security law.

Lawmakers also said critics were trying to turn Wong's criminal acts into mere political expression. A Legco spokesperson called the criticism a political manipulation meant to mislead the public in Hong Kong and abroad.

The spokesperson added that Hong Kong has regained stability and prosperity. The city, he said, still ranks near the top of several international business and competitiveness lists.

What the Court Decided

Wong, now 30, was sentenced on Thursday to 10 years in prison for "conspiracy to collude with foreign forces". It is his second conviction under the national security law that Beijing imposed on Hong Kong in 2020. He had pleaded guilty to the charge in September.

According to VOA, the court found that between July and November 2020 Wong, together with fellow activist Nathan Law and others, plotted to ask foreign entities for sanctions or other hostile measures against China or Hong Kong.

Wong was already serving a sentence of four years and eight months for subversion in the "Hong Kong 47" case. He was due to be released in January 2027. The new term comes on top of that.

Hong Kong Watch, a UK-based advocacy group, counts more than 2,100 days that Wong has spent in custody so far.

Governments Push Back

Within a day, ten governments issued a joint statement: the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands and New Zealand. They said the case is a further example of the security law being used against political expression and participation.

They called for an end to unjust prosecutions under the law. They also urged Beijing and Hong Kong to honour the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, which guaranteed Hong Kong's rights and freedoms.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington strongly condemns the decision. He argued that Wong had used peaceful means to defend rights promised to people in Hong Kong, and he called for the release of all unjustly detained persons.

In Congress, John Moolenaar, the Republican chairman of the House Select Committee on China, called the sentence shameless and described Wong as a hero.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee took the opposite view. He described Wong, Law and others as the main culprits behind damage to the city's prosperity and stability.

Who Is Joshua Wong?

Wong began campaigning at the age of 14 and founded the student group Scholarism. He became a leading figure in the 2014 Umbrella Movement protests and later served two short jail terms for his part in them.

After his release in 2019 he joined the city's mass pro-democracy protests. He also lobbied abroad, meeting Western politicians and testifying at a hearing on Capitol Hill.

Analysts say Beijing has long seen him as a thorn in its side. Eric Lai of Georgetown University's Center for Asian Law told VOA that the harsh sentence was therefore predictable.

Two Competing Narratives

Hong Kong's authorities present the case as a matter of law and security. Critics see something different.

Hong Kong Watch calls the prosecution political and says the law is being used to criminalise any hint of dissent. Former Scholarism member Frances Hui told VOA she sees the sentence as an attempt to silence an entire generation.

The core question is whether asking foreign governments for support is a crime or a form of political speech. Before the 2020 law, such lobbying was a normal part of political life. Hong Kong's authorities now treat it as a threat to national security.

What Comes Next

Wong is now expected to remain in prison for years beyond his original release date. Western governments have signalled that they will keep raising the case.

Whether this leads to concrete steps, such as sanctions or new diplomatic pressure, remains open. Beijing and the Hong Kong government have so far rejected all foreign criticism as interference in internal affairs.

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Sources

1. Reuters, "Hong Kong lawmakers condemn foreign governments' criticism of Joshua Wong ruling", 7 Nov 2026 – https://www.reuters.com/world/china/hong-kong-lawmakers-condemn-foreign-governments-criticism-joshua-wong-ruling-2026-11-07/
2. Voice of America, "US condemns Hong Kong Court's sentencing of pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong", 6 Nov 2026 – https://www.voanews.com/a/us-condemns-hong-kong-courts-sentencing-of-pro-democracy-activist-joshua-wong-20261106/8219799.html
3. Hong Kong Watch, "Joshua Wong sentenced to 10 years behind bars in second Hong Kong National Security Law case", 5 Nov 2026 – https://www.hongkongwatch.org/all-posts/2026/11/5/joshua-wong-sentenced-in-second-hong-kong-national-security-law-case
4. The Guardian, "UK and US condemn 'cruel' second jail term handed to Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong", 5 Nov 2026 – https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/nov/05/uk-and-us-condemn-second-jail-term-handed-to-hong-kong-activist-joshua-wong

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