Jailed HK activist Joshua Wong pleads guilty to foreign collusion

Prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy campaigner Joshua Wong has pleaded guilty to collusion with foreign entities, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of life in prison under Beijing's sweeping National Security Law (NSL).

The 29-year-old, who has become the poster child for political activism in Hong Kong, is already serving a sentence of four years and eight months after being convicted of subversion – another NSL violation – in late 2024.

The court said Wong would be sentenced at a later date. His earlier jail term is due to end early next year.

Wong was at the forefront of the Umbrella Movement in 2014 and massive pro-democracy protests in 2019.

The latest charge accuses Wong of conspiring with other campaigners, including exiled activist Nathan Law , to ask foreign countries and entities outside China to impose sanctions or blockades against Beijing.

These include activities that took place between July and late November 2020, the court heard. That was the year China introduced the controversial NSL , which critics say has created a climate of fear and quashed dissent in Hong Kong.

Beijing and Hong Kong authorities argue the law is necessary to maintain stability and deny it has weakened autonomy.

On Tuesday, the court heard that Wong and Law had participated in "international lobbying on numerous occasions", including via visits to the US, Germany and Italy.