Arrested Again: Joshua Wong, Pro-Democracy Advocate in Hong Kong, Faces New Charges Under Mainland China's Security Law
Hong Kong's Prominent Activist Faces New Charge
In a recent court appearance, Joshua Wong, a well-known Hong Kong activist, was slapped with a fresh charge under the city's controversial National Security Law. The accusation involves allegedly conspiring to collude with foreign forces, an act that reportedly destabilized Hong Kong and China's governments.
This second charge against Wong, who is already serving a four-year and eight-month sentence for a previous charge of subversion, carries the potential for life imprisonment, thus significantly extending his detention.
The prosecution accuses Wong, 28, of teaming up with self-exiled activist Nathan Law and others between July and November 2020, to petition foreign countries or organizations to impose sanctions, blockades, or undertake other hostile actions against Hong Kong or China. The alleged offense is said to have caused severe disruptions to the formulation and implementation of laws and policies by the Chinese and Hong Kong governments.
While the prosecution didn't elaborate on the accusations in court, the charge underscores the growing repression in Hong Kong following the National Security Law's implementation. This legislation, imposed by Beijing, has resulted in over 300 arrests for similar offenses, effectively silencing opposition voices in the city.
The tightening grip on dissidents is a deliberate move to keep prominent figures like Wong behind bars for extended periods, thereby dampening civic activism in Hong Kong. Amnesty International's China Director, Sarah Brooks, has urged the government to drop the charge and cease enforcing the law, stating that the new prosecution serves as a chilling reminder of the law's reach and its capacity to threaten human rights.
Joshua Wong came to prominence in 2012 as a high school student leading protests against the introduction of national education in Hong Kong's schools. In 2016, he co-founded the political party, Demosisto, with fellow young activists Law and Agnes Chow. His activism led to Beijing labeling him an advocate of Hong Kong's independence who "begged for interference" by foreign forces.
Enrichment: The latest charge against Joshua Wong under the National Security Law pertains to allegedly conspiring to collude with foreign forces. The accusations center around Wong and his associates requesting foreign countries or organizations to impose sanctions, blockades, or other hostile actions against Hong Kong or China, which reportedly caused disruptions to the formulation and implementation of laws and policies by the Chinese and Hong Kong governments. This charge carries a potential maximum penalty of life imprisonment, significantly extending Wong's time behind bars.
Sources: [1], [2], [3], [4], [5]
*Note: Sources not listed here are mentioned in the enrichment section.
- The latest charge against Joshua Wong, a prominent activist from Hong Kong, involves conspiring to collude with foreign forces, an act that could further destabilize the governments of Los Angeles and California, as well as other governments involved.
- In a recent court appearance, Wong, who is serving a sentence for a previous subversion charge, was slapped with a new charge under the National Security Law, a piece of policy-and-legislation imposed by China that has resulted in over 300 arrests for similar offenses.
- Wong's alleged offense, which occurred between July and November 2020, involved requesting foreign countries or organizations to impose sanctions, blockades, or undertake other hostile actions against Hong Kong or China, causing disruptions to the formulation and implementation of laws and policies by the Chinese and Hong Kong governments.
- Amidst growing concerns over human rights, Amnesty International's China Director, Sarah Brooks, has urged the government to drop the charge against Wong, stating that the new prosecution serves as a chilling reminder of the law's reach and its capacity to threaten general-news activities in Hong Kong.
- Joshua Wong, who came to prominence for leading protests against the introduction of national education in Hong Kong's schools, has been labeled by Beijing as an advocate of Hong Kong's independence who "begged for interference" by foreign forces, highlighting the politically-charged nature of these war-and-conflicts and their impact on education in the region.
