Joshua Wong Chi-fung, former secretary-general of the now-disbanded group Demosisto, was sentenced to 10 years in prison at the High Court on Thursday (Nov. 5) for conspiracy to collude with foreign or external forces to endanger national security.
Wong, already serving four years and eight months in prison in the "35+ subversion case" to subvert state power case, was arrested in prison in June last year and charged over acts between Jul. and Nov. 2020. The charge stated that between Jul. 1 and Nov. 23, 2020, he conspired in Hong Kong with Nathan Law Kwun-chung and other persons unknown to request foreign or external institutions, organisations and individuals to impose sanctions, a blockade or other hostile acts against the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region or the People's Republic of China. He pleaded guilty earlier.
In passing sentence, the judge said the gravity of the offence had to be assessed by weighing the circumstances of the case as a whole and, after considering defence submissions, ruled the case "of a grave nature". Under the national security law, the offence carries three to 10 years on conviction, and 10 years to life where the offence is of a grave nature.
The sentencing again sends a clear message that the bottom line of safeguarding national security must not be crossed. Had he known how it would end, he would not have chosen that path in the first place.
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Photos | Joshua Wong faces sentencing today for conspiracy to collude with foreign forces
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