The National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police has charged Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong, who is still in prison, with “conspiracy to collude with a foreign or external force to endanger national security” under the National Security Law (NSL).
Wong was brought to the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts on the afternoon of June 6. The charge states that between July 1 and Nov. 23, 2020, he and others, including Nathan Law who is currently in exile in the UK, requested foreign or external institutions to impose sanctions on the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Chief Magistrate So Wai-tak, at the request of the prosecution, then adjourned the case to Aug. 8 for further investigation by the police.
Wong was escorted to the court in a prison van that afternoon and said he “understood” after the court clerk read out the charges. He waved to the public gallery when the court was adjourned. Many of his friends attended the court hearing.
Wong was previously sentenced to 56 months in prison for “conspiracy to subvert state power” under the National Security Law for participating in the 2020 Democratic Party primary election. He was expected to be released from prison in one and a half years.
Authorities Trying to Extend His Detention: Amnesty
Sarah Brooks, Amnesty International’s China director, said this latest charge against Wong highlights the authorities’ fear of well-known dissidents and shows that they will do whatever it takes to keep these people in prison for as long as possible, thereby continuing to have a chilling effect on civil society.
In a press release, Brooks said, “Hong Kong’s National Security Law is turning five years old at the end of the month, and these new charges against Joshua Wong show that its capacity to be used by the Hong Kong authorities to threaten human rights in the city is as potent and present as ever.”
She continued that Wong had been sentenced for participating in Hong Kong’s primary election and was expected to be released from prison in 18 months. However, if this new case is established, he may face life imprisonment.
She called on the Hong Kong government to drop the charges, stop enforcing the National Security Law, and immediately release those detained for exercising basic human rights.
By Teresa Zhang
