10 years for Joshua Wong, and likely no release until 2036
The Hong Kong democracy activist's second national security conviction overturns an expected January release. He is now likely to remain imprisoned until 2036 unless he receives remission.
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by Sami Haddad
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Hong Kong's High Court sentenced democracy activist Joshua Wong to 10 years in prison on November 5, 2026, for conspiring to seek foreign sanctions against Hong Kong and China.
Wong pleaded guilty in September to conspiring to collude with foreign forces. The case concerned efforts with exiled activist Nathan Law and others to persuade foreign powers to impose sanctions, blockades or other hostile measures against the city and mainland China.
Already in custody since November 2020, Wong had been expected to leave prison in January 2027. Hong Kong Free Press reported that the new sentence means he is likely to remain behind bars until 2036 unless he receives remission, a reduction in the time he must serve.
It is his second conviction under the national security law Beijing imposed on Hong Kong in 2020.
Judge William Tam described the foreign-collusion offence as "grave". He set a starting sentence of 13 years and reduced it by three years because of Wong's timely guilty plea, according to Hong Kong Free Press.
