17 hrs ago
Joshua Wong Pleads Guilty in Second Hong Kong Security Case
Joshua Wong is a democracy activist from Hong Kong.
He pleaded guilty to a serious national security charge.
Prosecutors said he and other activists asked foreign governments and groups to put sanctions or blockades on Hong Kong or China.
They said the group used online campaigns and meetings with American politicians.
The alleged activities happened in 2020, including after Hong Kong’s national security law began.
The law allows a punishment as severe as life in prison.
Wong is already in prison for another national security case.
Critics say the cases are meant to silence Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement.
Chinese and Hong Kong authorities say the prosecution concerns harmful cooperation with foreign forces, not ordinary free speech.
Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong pleaded guilty to collusion with foreign entities at the High Court.
The national security offense carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Prosecutors accused Wong and others of seeking foreign sanctions or blockades against Hong Kong or China.
The alleged activities occurred between July 1 and November 23, 2020, including lobbying and social media campaigning.
Wong is already serving a four-year, eight-month sentence for conspiracy to commit subversion.
- Who
- Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong, along with exiled activist Nathan Law and other alleged co-conspirators.
- What
- Wong pleaded guilty to collusion with foreign entities, a national security offense.
- Where
- Hong Kong’s High Court in Admiralty.
- When
- Wong pleaded guilty on Wednesday, September 2; prosecutors said the alleged conduct occurred from July 1 to November 23, 2020.
- Why
- Prosecutors accused Wong and others of seeking foreign sanctions or blockades against Hong Kong or China and carrying out related lobbying and online campaigns.
Critics and Pro-Democracy Supporters
Hong Kong and Chinese Authorities
Purpose of the prosecution
Critics and Pro-Democracy Supporters
Critics say Wong’s second conviction shows Beijing is clamping down on dissidents and trying to eliminate Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement.
Hong Kong and Chinese Authorities
The Hong Kong government says lawful free speech should not be conflated with colluding with foreign countries to impose sanctions that harm China or Hong Kong.
Nature of the alleged conduct
Critics and Pro-Democracy Supporters
Supporters describe Wong’s activities as part of efforts to obtain international backing for Hong Kong’s democracy movement.
Hong Kong and Chinese Authorities
Authorities characterize Wong and other dissenters as anti-China figures who support Hong Kong independence and say their foreign lobbying endangered national security.
Key facts
- Defendant
- Joshua Wong, 29
- Charge
- Collusion with foreign entities
- Maximum penalty
- Life imprisonment
- Alleged activity period
- July 1 to November 23, 2020
- Alleged campaign
- A plan prosecutors called “International Battlefront”
- Current sentence
- Four years and eight months for conspiracy to commit subversion
- Other activist named
- Nathan Law, who lives in exile in London
- Court
- Hong Kong High Court in Admiralty
Quotes
Hong Kong government spokesperson
A spokesperson for the Hong Kong government responding to criticism of Wong’s prosecution and other national security cases.
“The lawful exercise of free speech must not be conflated with taking actions to collude with a foreign country to impose ‘sanctions’ to harm one’s own country.”
livemint.com
Sources
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