Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong pleads guilty to foreign collusion charge in second security-law case

HONG KONG (AP) — Joshua Wong, one of Hong Kong's most prominent pro-democracy activists, pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiring to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security, in a case brought under a Beijing-imposed law that has largely silenced the city's once-vibrant protest movement.

Wong, a former student leader and a familiar face in the democracy movement, entered the plea in his second prosecution under the national security legislation, which was introduced in 2020 after a wave of massive anti-government demonstrations tore through the city the previous year.

The 29-year-old, wearing a blue shirt and appearing thinner than in past public appearances, listened as the charges were read. His sentencing was scheduled for a later date; the offense carries a prison term of three to ten years, with a possible life sentence for cases deemed to be of a grave nature. A guilty plea typically opens the door to a reduced sentence.

Wong was already serving a four-year-and-eight-month prison term after pleading guilty in a separate national security case tied to an unofficial political primary. Before his arrest in June 2025 on the collusion-related charge, he had been expected to walk free next January.

The case has deepened concerns among critics that authorities are determined to silence prominent dissidents, casting a chill over civic activism. For Beijing, however, Wong represents an anti-China figure whose support for Hong Kong independence crosses an unshakable red line.

Prosecutors alleged that Wong and fellow activist Law had agreed years earlier to mount an international lobbying effort aimed at achieving democratic self-determination for Hong Kong. They and others sought foreign governments to impose sanctions, blockades or other hostile measures against Hong Kong and China before the security law took effect, according to the prosecution.

After the 2020 law came into force, Law and other activists who left Hong Kong continued their work abroad, meeting foreign politicians and launching petition drives. Wong, remaining in the city, supported those efforts through foreign media and social media — including sharing Law's posts — to draw international attention and “bolster the request for sanctions, blockade or other hostile measures,” prosecutors said.

They also pointed to a Facebook post in which Wong shared Law's online petition urging digital forensics companies to stop cooperating with police. One such company later announced it would cease selling digital intelligence products to customers in Hong Kong and mainland China, prosecutors noted.

In addition, prosecutors said Wong had written in a work report that he helped end that company's supply of forensic software to police, and that he had contacted foreign firms to warn them about collaborating with the Chinese government.

Wong confirmed he agreed with the facts as read out by the prosecution in court.

Before the hearing, a supporter shouted encouragement, telling Wong to “hang in there.” His friend Louis Lee described Wong as spending his time in prison reading, studying, learning guitar and exercising, exploring new hobbies and skills behind bars. “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,” Lee said.

Wong first rose to prominence in 2012 as a high school student leading protests against the introduction of national education in Hong Kong schools. He later became a leader of the 2014 Occupy movement, which attracted global attention.

In 2016, Wong co-founded the political party Demosisto with other young activists, including Law, who became the city's youngest lawmaker that year.

During the leaderless 2019 protests, Wong helped seek overseas backing for the democracy movement, including support from the United States. Beijing criticized him for what it called “begging for interference” by foreign countries.

Demosisto disbanded after Beijing imposed the security law in 2020, which authorities said was necessary to restore stability in the city. Many other leading activists have also been imprisoned under the law, including media tycoon Jimmy Lai, while several others fled to democratic countries such as the United States and Britain.

Hong Kong authorities have separately offered rewards of HK$1 million (about US$127,600) for information leading to the arrests of Law, now based in Britain, and other overseas-based activists.