Joshua Wong receives 10-year sentence under Hong Kong security law
Canada and nine other nations issued a joint statement condemning the ruling and urging Beijing to halt prosecutions under the National Security Law.
By Jenna Mitchell ·
Ten years. That is the sentence handed to Joshua Wong, a 30-year-old Hong Kong activist, on a charge of collusion with foreign entities.
Canada joined Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States in a joint statement issued this week. The group called for an immediate end to what they described as unjust prosecutions under the city's National Security Law.
The statement urged Chinese and Hong Kong authorities to uphold international commitments. It specifically cited the rights and freedoms guaranteed to the people of Hong Kong under the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration.
Wong was already serving a four-year, eight-month prison term. He had entered a guilty plea in the city's largest national security case. Prosecutors had expected him to be released in January before this new collusion charge was filed.
The signatory nations also referenced the conviction of members of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China earlier this year. They stated that the law is being used to target individuals for political expression and participation.
In a separate development, a Macao court sentenced Au Kam San to 12.5 years in prison. Au, 69, is one of the territory's longest-serving pro-democracy legislators. He was found guilty of subversion, establishing links with foreign groups, and violation of secrecy.
Au was arrested in July 2025 and tried behind closed doors on September 16 and 18, according to local broadcaster TDM. The court acquitted him on two additional counts of subversion due to insufficient evidence.
Human Rights Watch said the proceedings were marred by violations of due process. The organization stated that the sentence sends a chilling message to peaceful critics in the territory.
The Macao Court of First Instance noted that Au's intent was extremely high. It determined that the unlawfulness of his conduct and the potential consequences were exceptionally grave, despite his admission to a significant portion of the criminal acts.
Au served as a lawmaker in Macao for nearly two decades before returning to Chinese rule in 1999. His lawyer, appointed by the court, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the ruling.
Canada's position follows its support for other Hong Kong protest leaders. In February, media tycoon Jimmy Lai was jailed for 20 years for collusion with foreign forces and sedition. That landmark trial also drew international criticism.
Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 under a one country, two systems formula. China passed a new national security law in 2020 to expand investigatory powers and strengthen punishments for subversive activities.
