Pro-democracy Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong pleads guilty to foreign association

Pro-democratic student activist Joshua Wong, on Sept. 2, 2015. (Photo: AP) Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong, 29, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a national security allegation of collusion with foreign entities, an offence that carries a potential life sentence. Several Western diplomats were present at the hearing.Wong rose to international prominence as a teenage pro-democracy activist, part of a generation of young protesters whose activism has since been effectively criminalised under the sweeping National Security Law that Beijing imposed on Hong Kong in 2020.According to a charge sheet seen by Reuters, prosecutors accused Wong of conspiring with exiled activist Nathan Law and others to solicit foreign countries, institutions, organisations, or individuals to impose sanctions or blockades against Hong Kong and China. The alleged conduct occurred between July 1 and November 23, 2020. Wong was arrested on these charges in June 2025, the second time he has faced prosecution under the National Security Law.During the hearing, prosecutors emphasised an alleged international media and political campaign led by Demosisto, a now-disbanded political party Wong once led, that had...