Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong sentenced to 10 years for foreign collusion

Joshua Wong, a well-known Hong Kong pro-democracy activist, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for colluding with foreign powers, according to BBC World and France 24 English. He pleaded guilty to seeking foreign sanctions against Hong Kong and China under the national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020.

Wong, who is 30 years old and has been imprisoned multiple times for his activism since his teenage years, had already spent nearly six years behind bars. He was expected to be freed in January but will now serve an additional decade, as reported by The Guardian World and BBC World.

The national security law, introduced following large pro-democracy protests, has been used to detain hundreds of Hongkongers. Critics argue that the law suppresses dissent and political opposition, while authorities maintain it is necessary for stability and deny it undermines Hong Kong's autonomy, according to BBC World.

During the court hearing, Wong appeared calm and acknowledged supporters present. Dozens of people queued for hours to attend the hearing, and police presence was heavy outside the court, France 24 English noted. Wong's sentencing is seen as an example by Beijing to address what it views as rebellion, according to expert commentary cited by France 24 English.