Why is he imprisoned?

Joshua Wong has been involved in pro-democracy social movements since the age of 14: from the 2012 campaign against national education, to the 2014 Umbrella Movement, the 2019 Anti-Extradition Bill Movement, and advocacy abroad. As a result of his peaceful, democratic civic action in support of the rights of Hong Kongers, he has spent nearly a fifth of his life in prison.

1. 13 October 1996

   Born in Hong Kong

2. 29 May 2011Aged 14

   Co-founded ‘Scholarism’

   Joshua founds Scholarism to oppose the Hong Kong government’s proposed curriculum reforms, which were criticised for forcing Chinese Communist Party propaganda on students, bringing him into the public spotlight.

   

3. 8 September 2012Aged 15

   National education plan shelved

   Scholarism launches a student movement and hunger strike, successfully pressuring the government to back down on making the curriculum compulsory.

4. 26 September 2014Aged 17

   Retake the Civic Square and the Umbrella Movement

   In 2014, amid demands for genuine universal suffrage, which had been promised to Hong Kongers, Joshua leads the students in reclaiming Civic Square after the government restricts public access. His arrest on 26 September helps spark the 79-day Umbrella Movement. A million people join the demonstrations, bringing the politics of Hong Kong into the global spotlight.

5. 10 April 2016Aged 19

   Co-founded Demosistō

   Joshua founds the political party Demosistō with Nathan Law, Agnes Chow and others, serving as Secretary-General. Their goal is to win seats in the legislative elections.

6. 17 August 2017Aged 20

   First imprisonment: Civic Square case

   Joshua is sentenced to six months in prison over the 2014 “unlawful assembly” in Civic Square. Originally handed community service by the judge, the sentence is changed following an appeal by the Department of Justice. The Court of Final Appeal overturns the prison sentence in February 2018.

7. 17 January 2018Aged 21

   Second imprisonment

   Joshua is charged with criminal contempt of court after refusing to leave the protest site during the final stage of the Umbrella Movement. He is sentenced to three months in prison, disqualifying him from standing for election.

8. 17 June 2019Aged 22

   Released and joined the 2019 protests

   After completing his prison sentence, Joshua immediately joins the Anti-Extradition Bill Movement, calling for the government to withdraw the pro-China bill and urging Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam to step down.

9. 30 August 2019Aged 22

   Arrested for participating in the 2019 protests

   Arrested over the 21 June Police Headquarters protest.

10. 17 September 2019Aged 22

    Testimony before the U.S. Congress

    Joshua testifies before Congress, condemning police brutality and urging lawmakers to pass legislation to support Hong Kong’s struggle for democracy and protect human rights.

11. 29 October 2019Aged 23

    Banned from standing for local election

    Disqualified from standing in the District Council election after the Returning Officer ruled that his advocacy of “self-determination” was incompatible with the requirements of the election law.

12. 27 November 2019Aged 23

    “Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act” and “PROTECT Hong Kong Act” take effect

    The “Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act” authorises the U.S. government to impose sanctions on Hong Kong government officials. The “PROTECT Hong Kong Act” restricts the export of tear gas and crowd-control equipment to Hong Kong.

13. 30 June 2020Aged 23

    National Security Law imposed

    Beijing imposes the National Security Law on Hong Kong. Facing legal uncertainty, Demosistō is dissolved on the same day despite upcoming legislative elections.

14. 13 July 2020Aged 23

    Won the primary election

    An alliance led by Joshua and other former Demosistō members sweeps to victory in pan-democratic primary elections. Joshua wins the Kowloon East constituency with more than 30,000 votes, placing first.

15. 23 November 2020Aged 24

    Remanded in custody

    Joshua is taken into custody over unlawful assembly charges connected with the 2019 protests. More charges follow and he is deprived of his freedom ever since.

16. 28 February 2021Aged 24

    Charged with "conspiracy to commit subversion"

    Joshua and 46 other pro-democracy figures are charged for their involvement in the 2020 pro-democracy primary election, known as the “Hong Kong 47”.

    

17. 6 May 2021Aged 24

    10 more months’ imprisonment for commemorating the Tiananmen Massacre

    Joshua is sentenced for taking part in the candlelight vigil held in Victoria Park on 4 June 2020. The peaceful vigil, which took place annually since 1990, had always been a symbol of Hong Kong’s freedom of expression and right to remember history.

18. 19 November 2024Aged 28

    Sentenced to 4 years and 8 months in the Hong Kong 47 case

    Joshua is sentenced again while in prison.

19. 6 June 2025Aged 28

    Another national-security charge while in prison

    Newly charged with "conspiracy to collude with foreign forces" under the National Security Law – an offence that carries up to life imprisonment.

20. 2 September 2026Aged 29

    Pleads guilty to the national-security charge

    He pleads guilty, becoming the first person to be convicted twice under the National Security Law. He had been due to finish his current sentence on 7 January 2027 before this additional charge.

21. 5 November 2026Aged 30

    Sentenced to 10 years under the National Security Law

    About two months before his expected release, Joshua is sentenced to a further 10 years under the National Security Law, depriving him of his freedom for an even longer period.

22. TodayAged 30

    He remains in prison, serving his sentence.

Read his testimony, books and speeches →