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Joshua Wong was sentenced to another 10 years in prison for conspiracy to collude with foreign forces. He was originally expected to be released from prison in 2027. In his plea letter, he regretted the sudden change in his future and expressed his willingness to face legal consequences.
Former convict serving sentence for subverting state powerhong kong General Secretary of Demosistojoshua wong was sentenced today to 10 more years in prison for conspiracy to collude with foreign forces. He previously said in a plea letter written by himself that he thought he would be able to get out of prison in January 2027 and “start over at the age of thirty, but it had the opposite effect and it was almost like returning to the starting point.”
Joshua Wong’s development has been intertwined with political changes in Hong Kong for more than a decade. At the age of 30 this year, he has spent about 1/5 of his life in jail.
Following the Umbrella Movement in 2014, Joshua Wong was jailed in the Citizens Square case; Following the “anti-extradition” movement in 2019, he was arrested again for the police headquarters siege, illegal assembly and other matters, and has been on remand since November 23, 2020, and is serving his sentence. He was later charged with “subversion of state power” in relation to the pan-democratic primary election case and sentenced to four years and eight months in prison in 2024. He has been kept in jail for six consecutive years.
Joshua Wong was originally expected to be released from prison in January 2027. In 2025, he was charged with violating the crime of “conspiracy to collude with foreign forces.” He pleaded guilty in September this year and today the court sentenced him to 10 years in prison. He is expected to be released from prison in 2036, when he will be 40.
According to Hong Kong media reports such as “Court Line”, Joshua Wong came to court this morning wearing a blue shirt and dark glasses. After entering the court he held up a book and a stack of notebooks and nodded towards the public gallery.
After the judge handed down the sentence, some spectators in the court said to Joshua Wong: “We (are) waiting for you to come out” and “Take care of yourself”. Joshua Wong smiled and waved at them and said: “Thank you” and “Thank you (we)”. Some of Wong’s friends in the courtroom had red eyes and some observers were crying.
“Courtline” previously published part of a petition letter written in English by Joshua Wong on this matter.
Joshua Wong said that because he was in prison, he was unable to attend his college graduation ceremony, missed time with his family and was unable to start a family like his peers. “I spent many years in a room with only black and white.”
Joshua Wong said, “I fully expected to get out of prison on January 7, 2027 and start over at the age of thirty, but things went against my expectations.” Less than half a year after being released from prison, I faced this matter again. “It’s almost like going back to the starting point.” He pointed out that if he does not find an excuse for this matter, he will bear the legal responsibility, consequences and costs.
Joshua Wong said, “When I get out of prison one day, I hope to wash away the childishness of a 24-year-old boy and move forward with a mature mind, abundant knowledge and a healthy body.”
Joshua Wong also said that he continued his studies in prison. “During these years in prison uniform, I only focused on learning how to be a good person first and then how to become a good person.” He hopes that when he is released from prison, he can take care of his elderly parents and “pay back my parents for their upbringing with practical work and repay the debts the family has incurred over the years.”
In 2011, when Joshua Wong was still a middle school student, he began to come into the public eye due to his participation in social movements. Later, he formed “Scholar-Mind Thought” with other middle school students and launched the “Anti-State Religion” movement in 2012. In 2016, the scholarship was suspended. At that time, 20-year-old Joshua Wong and others founded the political party “Hong Kong Demosisto” and officially devoted themselves to party politics.
Summary FAQ
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He was sentenced to 10 years in prison for conspiracy to collude with foreign forces. Reports suggest that he had pleaded guilty in September this year and today the court formally sentenced him. It is expected that if the current sentence is accumulated, he will not be released from prison until 2036.
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He said he originally thought he would be able to get out of prison on January 7, 2027, and start over at age 30, but now things have gone against his expectations, and he is almost back to square one. He also said that he does not look for any excuse and is ready to bear the legal responsibility and costs.
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He has been involved in cases like Citizen Square case, police headquarters siege and illegal assembly. From November 2020, he was taken on remand and kept in jail. Later, he was sentenced to 4 years and 8 months in prison for the pan-democratic primary election case. Now with the addition of new cases, he has been in custody for almost 6 years continuously.
