Joshua Wong sentenced to 10 years in Hong Kong national security case
The pro-democracy activist was convicted for a second time under the Beijing-imposed national security law.
Key facts
Story- Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.
- It is his second conviction under the Beijing-imposed national security law.
- Critics say the case reflects a wider crackdown on Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement.
A Hong Kong court has jailed pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong for 10 years, his second conviction under the national security law that Beijing imposed on the city. The sentence was reported on 5 November 2026.
Wong became the international face of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement while still a teenager. He rose to prominence during the 2014 Umbrella Movement, when students and other protesters occupied streets across the city to demand greater democratic freedoms.
The sentence is the latest in a series of legal cases against activists in the city. Critics say the prosecutions reflect a crackdown on a movement that was once large and active. Wong has now spent most of his adult life behind bars.
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The new sentence is Wong's second under the national security law. The law, which took effect in 2020, gives authorities broad powers to prosecute acts that they consider threats to national security. Supporters of the law say it has restored order after the 2019 protests. Critics say it has been used to silence dissent.
It is not yet known what charges were brought in this case or how Wong responded to the verdict. It is also not known whether he plans to appeal.
Hong Kong remains a major financial hub, and several Indian businesses and professionals work there. Any change in the city's legal climate can affect how they operate.
It is not yet clear what happens next in the case, or whether the sentence will be challenged.
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