Beijing enforces security law: Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong must be arrested

Well-known Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong and two of his colleagues are in custody. A Hong Kong court ordered on Monday, according to a spokesman for Wong, that activists would not be allowed to walk until the ongoing trial ends on Wednesday (December 2).

At the start of Monday’s hearing, Wong pleaded guilty to organizing an unauthorized protest. For this, he and his colleagues could face up to five years in prison.

Shortly before the trial began, Wong announced his plan to plead guilty and face an immediate prison sentence. His colleague Ivan Lam also wanted to plead guilty. Accused activist Agnes Chow had already done so too.

Before the trial, Wong said he pleaded guilty to organizing an unauthorized meeting outside the Wan Chai police headquarters on June 21 last year. According to Wong, it was a minor offense. He and his colleagues are ready to serve an immediate prison sentence. He hoped this would draw global attention to the Hong Kong justice system, which Beijing was manipulating.

The 24-year-old is one of the most famous faces of Hong Kong’s democratic movement; he had organized protests as a teenager. Wong and other supporters had already been sentenced to several months in prison three years ago in connection with the “umbrella protests” that began in 2014 for more democracy.

Last year there were much larger protests against Beijing’s growing influence. China then passed a security law for Hong Kong in late June. It is directed against activities that China considers subversive, separatist or terrorist. It is the largest invasion of Hong Kong’s autonomy to date and confers extensive powers on the security of the Chinese state.