Joshua Wong charged with conspiring to collude with foreign forces and money laundering

Activist Joshua Wong Chi-fung, currently serving a prison sentence for his role in the high-profile 35+ subversion case, appeared in West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court on Friday after being charged with conspiring to collude with foreign forces under the National Security Law.

According to police, the 28-year-old was arrested earlier in the day in Stanley and faces charges of "conspiracy to collude with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security," as well as an additional charge under the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance related to money laundering.

Prosecutors allege that between July 1 and November 23, 2020, Wong conspired with exiled activist Nathan Law and others to request foreign organizations, institutions, or individuals to impose sanctions or take hostile actions against the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region or the People’s Republic of China.

The alleged acts also involved attempts to obstruct the enactment or implementation of laws and policies by the Hong Kong or central Chinese governments, with consequences that could be deemed serious.

Wong did not enter a plea during his court appearance. 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.