In this file photo taken on June 30, 2017, Joshua Wong Chi-fung (front) speaks during an interview in front of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government headquarters in Hong Kong, south China. Photo: Xinhua
The Hong Kong Police Force’s national security department arrested a 28-year-old man in Stanley on Friday for suspected “conspiracy to collude with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security,” according to an official statement on the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s website.
According to multiple Hong Kong media outlets, the arrested man is Joshua Wong Chi-fung, an anti-China separatist who was arrested on Friday again while already serving a prison sentence.
The 28-year-old man was arrested for suspected violations of Article 29(2) and (4) of the National Security Law (NSL) for Hong Kong, and for suspected involvement in “dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence,” contravening Section 25 of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance, according to the official statement.
The case was mentioned at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts on Friday afternoon, the statement said.
Wong’s case was heard at West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts on Friday for its first hearing, during which he was not required to enter a plea, according to local media stheadline.com.
At the prosecution’s request, Designated NSL Judge and Chief Magistrate Victor So Wai-tak adjourned the case to August 8 to allow time for further police investigation. Wong did not apply for bail, the media report said.
Wong is currently serving a 4-year and 8-month prison sentence (a total of 56 months). He was rearrested on Friday at Stanley Prison on fresh charges under the National Security Law for Hong Kong, hk.on.cc reported.
On November 19, 2024, the Hong Kong High Court issued verdicts for 45 individuals previously charged with “conspiracy to subvert state power.” Among them, Benny Tai was sentenced to 10 years in prison, while Joshua Wong received a 56-month sentence. All were accused of violating the Hong Kong National Security Law and had either pleaded guilty or been convicted.
Global Times
