LONDON - Ten governments including the Canada, United States, Britain, Germany and France issued a statement on Friday condemning the sentencing of Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong to 10 years in jail. Wong, who has been behind bars since 2020, was on Thursday sentenced to a further 10 years in jail on a charge of collusion with foreign entities under the city’s national security law.“ These are further examples of how the NSL (national security law) is being used to target individuals for political expression and participation,” the countries, which also include Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands and New Zealand said in the statement. China imposed the national security law on Hong Kong in 2020 after sometimes violent demonstrations. “We call for an immediate end to all unjust prosecutions of individuals charged under the NSL and urge the authorities in China and Hong Kong to uphold their international commitments and honor the rights and freedoms guaranteed to the people of Hong Kong under the Sino-British Joint Declaration,” the statement added. In response to joint statement, China’s embassy in London said: “China firmly opposes and strongly condemns such an act, and has made solemn representations to the U.K. side.” “We urge the U.K. to stop shielding and glorifying criminals, and to stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China’s internal affairs under any pretext,” the spokesperson added Reporting by Yoruk Bahceli; editing by Sarah Young and Sam Tabahriti
