Ten nations urge China to halt unjust Hong Kong prosecutions

The Canadian government has aligned itself with nine other nations in a joint statement that criticizes the recent prison sentence handed to Joshua Wong, a leading figure in Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement. Wong was sentenced to ten years in prison earlier this week for the charge of colluding with foreign entities under the city's National Security Law.

The coalition, which includes Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States, issued a formal condemnation of how the law is being applied. The group urged authorities in both China and Hong Kong to uphold their international commitments and respect the rights and freedoms guaranteed to Hong Kong residents under the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration.

In the statement, the signatories called for an immediate end to what they described as unjust prosecutions of individuals charged under the National Security Law. They specifically noted that the legislation appears to be used to target people for their political expression and participation in public life.

Wong, who is 30 years old, had already been serving a prison term of four years and eight months following a guilty plea in the city's largest national security case. Prior to his prosecution on the new collusion-related charge, he was expected to be released from that initial sentence in January.

The joint statement also referenced the conviction earlier this year of members of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China. This organization has long been a significant voice for democratic reform in the territory.

The legal context for these cases is rooted in the 2020 introduction of the National Security Law. This legislation expanded the investigatory and extradition powers of Chinese authorities while strengthening punishments for activities deemed subversive or terroristic. Since the 2019 protests, many protest leaders have faced arrest or exile, with some settling in Canada.

In a related development on Friday, Au Kam San, a longtime pro-democracy legislator in Macao, was sentenced to 12.5 years in prison for subversion. This marks the first known national security trial in the China-ruled gambling hub, according to local broadcaster TDM.

Au, 69, was arrested in July 2025 for colluding with foreign forces to endanger national security. The trial was held behind closed doors on September 16 and 18. Human Rights Watch condemned the proceedings, stating that the sentence sends a chilling message to all peaceful critics in the territory.

The Macao Court of First Instance found Au guilty of subverting state power and violating secrecy laws. The court noted that although Au is a first-time offender who admitted to a significant portion of the acts, the degree of intent was extremely high. He was acquitted on two additional counts due to insufficient evidence.

Au had served as a lawmaker in the former Portuguese colony for nearly two decades, championing democratic reforms and civil society initiatives. The applicable sentence range for his conviction was between 11 years and three months and 19 years and six months.