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Joshua Wong Pleads Guilty in Second National Security Case
Confirmed
In Short: Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong has pleaded guilty in his second national security case, with sentencing to be determined at a later date.
Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong has pleaded guilty in his second national security case, with sentencing to be determined at a later date. The court did not immediately impose a sentence, instead setting a future date for sentencing.
Even after the disbandment of Demosisto, Wong maintained his political stance and sought international support, according to prosecutors. Fellow activist Louis Lee expressed disheartenment over Wong's new charge, especially given his ongoing prison time.
Tsang Kin-shing, a former member of the now-dissolved League of Social Democrats, hopes for a lenient sentence, noting that Wong has spent over 2,000 days in prison. Critics argue that Wong's case exemplifies the authorities' efforts to silence prominent dissidents, potentially chilling civic activism.
The prosecution highlighted Demosisto's international media and political campaign, which aimed to bring sanctions on Hong Kong and China in 2019 and 2020. This case follows the guilty verdicts of two other activists in August for inciting subversion.
Background
Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. Situated on China's southern coast just south of Shenzhen, it consists of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories.
What's confirmed
What's still developing
- The court said Wong would be sentenced at a later date.
- Even after Demosistō disbanded, Wong had maintained that he would not abandon his political stance and would continue to seek support from the international community, the prosecutors said.
- Tsang Kin-shing, a former member of the now-dissolved League of Social Democrats, said he hopes the court will impose a lenient sentence, noting that Wong has by now spent more than 2,000 days in prison.
- Fellow activist Louis Lee said Wong and his supporters were disheartened that he was handed another NSL charge while already serving time in prison.
- Critics say Wong’s case showed the authorities’ determination to silence prominent dissidents, causing a chilling effect on civic activism.
- Demosisto disbanded when Beijing imposed the security law in 2020, which authorities said was necessary for the city's stability.
- The prosecution highlighted what it said was an international media and political campaign by Demosisto, a now-disbanded political party that once backed a referendum on Hong Kong’s sovereignty and counted Wong as…
- His case comes after two other activists were found guilty of inciting subversion in August after they used the phrase “end one-party dictatorship” in their political activities.