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Joshua Wong pleads guilty in Hong Kong national security case

Joshua Wong pleads guilty in Hong Kong national security case
Photo: apnews.com

Joshua Wong pleaded guilty in Hong Kong to conspiring to collude with foreign forces.

Why it matters: The plea deepens legal pressure on one of Hong Kong's best-known pro-democracy figures. Wong is already serving a prison term in a separate national security case.

  • Wong pleaded guilty Sept. 2 in Hong Kong High Court to conspiracy to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security, AP reported.
  • Reuters said the charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and that Wong appeared before a government-approved national security judge in Admiralty.
  • Wong is already serving four years and eight months from a separate case tied to an unofficial pro-democracy primary.
  • AP said prosecutors alleged Wong and Nathan Law agreed years earlier to lobby internationally for democratic self-determination and sanctions or other hostile measures.

Joshua Wong pleaded guilty in Hong Kong High Court on Sept. 2 to conspiracy to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security under Hong Kong's Beijing-imposed national security law, according to AP.

The plea is his second prosecution under the law. Wong is already serving a four-year-and-eight-month prison term from a separate national security case tied to an unofficial pro-democracy primary, AP said.

Reuters reported that the offense carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and that Wong appeared before a government-approved national security judge in Admiralty.

AP said prosecutors alleged Wong and Nathan Law agreed years earlier to lobby internationally for democratic self-determination and sanctions or other hostile measures, and that Wong supported some of that effort through foreign media and social media.

By the numbers

  • 4 years and 8 months - Wong's current prison term from a separate national security case.
  • Life in prison - maximum sentence Reuters reported for the charge Wong pleaded guilty to.

Yes, but: The plea does not end the case; sentencing still has to be set.

What's next: Sentencing has yet to be scheduled.

Based on reporting from

  • AP News

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