Wong case puts freedom on trial

Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong (黃之鋒) was on Wednesday last week sentenced to another 10 years in prison for colluding with foreign powers — one of the harshest sentences handed down under Hong Kong’s National Security Law.

Wong, who had already been imprisoned for subversion, must now spend another decade of his life in prison because of another national security case. By the time he completes his sentence, he would be approaching 40 years old.

The case demonstrates how the Hong Kong government has used the law to bring past overseas lobbying, media statements and political activities under the scope of national security persecutions. Even while Wong remains behind bars, he can still be accused of conspiracy and face additional serious charges, showing how Hong Kong’s judiciary has become subordinated to China’s political interests.

The Hong Kong government is using Wong’s case to send a warning to others, targeting overseas efforts to support Hong Kong. Wong and other Hong Kongers who lobby foreign governments and expose human rights abuses are engaging in legitimate political advocacy, which should not be arbitrarily labeled as a national security offense.

However, Hong Kong has been gradually extending its crackdown beyond its borders. The case of US-based Hong Kong activist Anna Kwok (郭鳳儀) is one example. After police issued a warrant for her arrest, the authorities targeted her family in Hong Kong, with her father being prosecuted and sentenced to eight months in prison for “attempting to deal with, directly or indirectly, any funds or other financial assets or economic resources” belonging to an absconder.

Linking overseas political activities with the property, freedom and even criminal liability of relatives in Hong Kong effectively turns them into hostages, pressuring Hong Kongers abroad into silence and creating a chilling effect.

The Hong Kong government has broadened its interpretation of the law and criminalized freedom of expression, a right protected under Hong Kong’s Basic Law, under the guise of protecting national security, deploying the full force of the state to pursue dissidents and strip them of their rights. Wong’s case demonstrates that the government is no longer content with maintaining control within its borders; it seeks to extend its crackdown overseas, further isolating Hong Kong and severing all ties with the democratic community.

What is happening in Hong Kong is a reminder for Taiwan to cherish its hard-earned freedoms and democracy. The value of a democratic system lies not in unanimous agreement with the government, but in ensuring that even those who oppose authorities can express their views safely, freely and without fear.

Hong Kong’s institutional breakdown is a warning — democracy and freedom should never be taken for granted. They must continually be defended to prevent freedoms from gradually disappearing under the guise of legality.

Hong Tsun-ming is a policy specialist in the Taiwan Statebuilding Party.