Joshua Wong Faces Second Charge Under Hong Kong’s National Security Law
Hong Kong, June 6, 2025 — Prominent pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong has been formally charged for the second time under Hong Kong’s sweeping National Security Law (NSL), this time for allegedly conspiring to collude with foreign forces. The latest charge significantly intensifies the legal pressure on the 27-year-old, who is already serving a prison sentence related to his political activism.
Authorities claim that Wong, along with exiled activist Nathan Law and others, engaged in efforts between July and November 2020 to seek foreign interference in Hong Kong’s affairs. According to the prosecution, the group solicited foreign governments and organizations to impose sanctions or other punitive measures on Hong Kong and mainland China — actions that fall under the offense of “conspiracy to collude with foreign forces,” a crime that carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
The new charge comes in addition to Wong’s current incarceration. In November 2024, he was sentenced to four years and eight months (56 months) for his role in organizing and participating in the unofficial 2020 pro-democracy primary elections — an event the authorities deemed subversive under the NSL.
Wong appeared in court on Thursday and did not apply for bail. The hearing was brief, and the case has been adjourned to August 8, 2025. Legal observers note that this second charge could significantly extend his prison term and may subject him to trial without a jury, as permitted under the national security framework.
The case has drawn fresh criticism from human rights organizations and the international community. Amnesty International called the charge “another alarming example of how the National Security Law is being weaponized to criminalize peaceful political dissent.” Western governments, including the United States and several EU member states, have also voiced concern over the erosion of political freedoms in Hong Kong.
Since its enactment in mid-2020, the NSL has dramatically reshaped the city’s legal and political landscape. Critics argue that the law is overly broad, allowing the government to clamp down on civil liberties and silence opposition. Dozens of former legislators, journalists, and activists have been arrested under its provisions.
Joshua Wong first gained international recognition during the 2014 Umbrella Movement and has remained a symbolic figure of resistance against Beijing’s tightening grip on Hong Kong. With his continued prosecution, observers fear that the space for political dissent in the city is nearing total collapse.
As Wong awaits his next court appearance, the implications of his case are likely to reverberate beyond Hong Kong’s borders, serving as a stark reminder of the cost of activism under the new legal order imposed by Beijing.
