Joshua Wong Awaits Sentence in Second National Security Case – Life Behind Bars Possible

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A Second Case, Just Before Freedom

High Court Judge William Tam was set to deliver the sentence on Thursday morning Hong Kong time (0130 GMT). Wong pleaded guilty to the charge in September.

The case matters because Wong was about to leave prison. He is serving four years and eight months in the "Hong Kong 47" case, in which dozens of democrats were convicted of subversion in 2024. His release had been expected in January 2027.

Then, in June 2025, authorities charged him a second time. Rights groups say this was a deliberate move to keep him locked up.

What Wong Is Accused Of

Prosecutors say that between July 1 and November 23, 2020, Wong conspired with exiled activist Nathan Law and unnamed others. They allege the group asked foreign governments, institutions or individuals to impose sanctions or take other hostile steps against Hong Kong or China. Law now lives in Britain.

The charge falls under the National Security Law, which Beijing imposed on Hong Kong in 2020. The law covers subversion, "collusion" with foreign forces and terrorism, and it allows life sentences.

How Long Could He Be Jailed?

For ordinary cases, the law sets a range of three to ten years. If the judge rules the offence of a "grave nature", the minimum rises to ten years, and the maximum is life.

Wong's lawyer argued that his case is less serious than that of media tycoon Jimmy Lai, who received 20 years for foreign collusion in February. The defence asked for a starting point of no more than ten years. A customary one-third reduction for the guilty plea would then apply.

Background: From Teen Activist to Prisoner

Wong rose to fame as a teenager in the 2014 "Umbrella" protests and became the best-known face of Hong Kong's democracy movement. He was the subject of a Netflix documentary and appeared on magazine covers worldwide. He has been in detention since November 2020.

The 2024 subversion case grew out of an unofficial 2020 primary election held to choose the opposition's strongest candidates. Prosecutors argued that the plan to win a majority in the legislature and block government budgets amounted to subversion.

Friends who visit Wong say he stays active in prison. He exercises, plays guitar and studies university courses, though he is sometimes anxious about the sentencing. Before his earlier sentencing, he vowed to keep defending Hong Kong "until they silence me".

Outlook: A Warning for Hong Kong

Critics say the case shows how security charges can be used again and again to keep a specific political prisoner in jail. Eric Lai of the Georgetown Center for Asian Law has made this argument.

The decision will also show how harshly Hong Kong's courts treat appeals to foreign governments. It will be read as another signal of how little room for dissent remains under Beijing's control.

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Sources

1. Reuters – "Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong set to be sentenced on national security charge": https://www.reuters.com/world/china/hong-kong-activist-joshua-wong-set-be-sentenced-national-security-charge-2026-11-04/
2. AFP via France 24 – "Hong Kong to sentence activist Joshua Wong on Thursday": https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20261103-hong-kong-to-sentence-activist-joshua-wong-on-thursday
3. Hong Kong Free Press – "Jailed activist Joshua Wong to be sentenced on Thursday in 2nd national security trial": https://hongkongfp.com/2026/11/03/jailed-activist-joshua-wong-to-be-sentenced-on-thursday-in-2nd-national-security-trial/
4. AP via CP24 – "Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong faces sentencing in 2nd national security case": https://www.cp24.com/news/world/2026/11/05/hong-kong-pro-democracy-activist-joshua-wong-faces-sentencing-in-2nd-national-security-case/
5. Radio Free Asia (June 2025, mirrored copy) – "Imprisoned Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong faces new 'foreign collusion' charge": https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/china/2025/06/china-250606-rfa01.htm

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