Hong Kong Pro-Democracy Activist Joshua Wong Faces Additional Charges in Prison for "Colluding with Foreign Forces"

Possible Life Imprisonment Under Hong Kong National Security Law
Human Rights Groups: "Authorities Intend to Extend Detention Period"

Joshua Wong, a Hong Kong pro-democracy activist currently imprisoned, has been additionally charged with "colluding with foreign forces."

Democracy activist Joshua Wong imprisoned in a Hong Kong prison. Photo by Yonhap News

According to reports by Reuters, the Associated Press, and Hong Kong Free Press (HKFP) on June 7, Wong appeared at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts the previous day in connection with an additional indictment for violating the Hong Kong National Security Law.

According to the indictment obtained by Reuters and HKFP, Wong is accused of conspiring with Nathan Law, a pro-democracy activist who went into exile abroad between July and November 2020, and others, to request foreign countries, organizations, groups, or individuals to undertake hostile activities such as sanctions targeting Hong Kong or China.

Prosecutors allege that Wong "conspired to request foreign countries or organizations to seriously obstruct the formulation and implementation of Hong Kong and China's laws and policies," and that this "could have resulted in serious consequences."

Wong was brought to court from Stanley Prison by officers from the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police. When asked if he understood the charges against him, he replied, "I understand." The judge postponed the hearing to August 8, stating that further police investigation was necessary.

If Wong is found guilty of the additional charges, he could face up to life imprisonment. The Hong Kong National Security Law, enacted by the Chinese government in June 2020, stipulates that four crimes?secession, subversion of state power, terrorist activities, and collusion with foreign forces?are punishable by up to life imprisonment.

Wong is a symbolic figure in the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement, having led the large-scale "Umbrella Movement" protests in 2014 and founded the pro-democracy party Demosisto in 2016.

Wong has been in detention since his arrest in November 2020 for unauthorized assembly. In December of the same year, he was sentenced to 13 years and 5 months in prison for organizing and inciting an illegal assembly. In 2021, he received an additional 4 months for participating in protests against the anti-mask law and 10 months for attending a vigil commemorating the Tiananmen democracy movement.

Additionally, last year, Wong was sentenced to 4 years and 8 months in prison in a case where 45 pro-democracy figures were prosecuted for violating the National Security Law by holding an unofficial primary election to select pro-democracy candidates ahead of the 2020 Hong Kong Legislative Council elections.

Sarah Brooks, China Director at Amnesty International, issued a statement calling for the withdrawal of the additional charges against Wong. She said, "This highlights the authorities' fear of prominent dissenting voices," and added, "It shows their intention to do whatever it takes to keep them behind bars for as long as possible."