Joshua Wong's second sentence shows Beijing is crushing Hong Kong democracy, and the UK must prioritise prisoner releases
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/profile/nathan-law. "Hong Kong’s prisoners are China’s signal to the world: there is no hope for democracy on its soil | Nathan Law | The Guardian." November 6, 2026. www.theguardian.com
The Gist
The author argues that Joshua Wong's new 10-year sentence rests on weak evidence and is really a political decision by Beijing to crush any hope of democracy in Hong Kong. Because other countries have let human rights slip down their priority lists, China pays no price for this. He says the UK, given its history with Hong Kong, should make freeing Wong and other prisoners a real priority instead of just expressing concern.
Conclusion
Joshua Wong's additional 10-year sentence signals that China is determined to quash any hope for democracy in Hong Kong. Because the international community's responses have been ineffective, the UK in particular should make the release of Wong, Jimmy Lai and other political prisoners a priority in dealing with Beijing, rather than issuing statements of concern.
Premises
- Wong was convicted of collusion with foreign forces on thin evidence: he shared Facebook posts written by someone else that did not directly call for sanctions, there is no evidence he personally advocated sanctions or had direct links to overseas advocacy, and the court accepted that no organisation or funding supported his activities after the law took effect.
- Much of the evidence cited predates the national security law, and before 2020 meeting foreign parliamentarians, speaking to international institutions and advocating against human rights abuses were ordinary, peaceful campaign methods.
- Beijing exercises sweeping control over Hong Kong's legal and political systems, as seen in the tightened electoral vetting, the jailing of peaceful dissidents and the 'patriots ruling Hong Kong' principle, so sentences are set to match the political 'importance' Chinese leaders assign to defendants (Lai 20 years, Tai 10, Wong 10).
- Close to 2,000 political prisoners are now held in Hong Kong, and the harsh sentences are designed to deter any pursuit of democracy.
- As geopolitical competition and populism grow, governments treat human rights as secondary to diplomatic and economic interests, so repression in Hong Kong carries no meaningful trade or reputational consequences and Beijing has little reason to change course.
- The UK has a special responsibility because Hong Kong was a British colony until 1997 and the Sino-British Joint Declaration was meant to safeguard the city's rights and freedoms.
Assumptions
- The trial's outcome reflects political direction from Beijing rather than independent judicial assessment of the evidence.
- Author's account of the evidence and the court's reasoning is accurate and complete.
- Sentences against high-profile figures are intended as a signal about the future of democracy, not just punishment of individuals.
- Sustained international pressure, particularly from the UK, could influence Beijing's treatment of prisoners.
- The UK's historical ties and treaty role create a moral or legal obligation to act beyond statements of concern.
- Pre-2020 advocacy activities are legitimate and should not be criminalised retroactively, regardless of how the court characterised the application of the law.