First European citizen jailed under HK security law

A Portuguese citizen, Joseph John, has become the first European to be imprisoned under Hong Kong’s National Security Law, which was implemented by China and widely condemned by human rights organisations. Formerly known as Wong Kin-Chung, John holds both Portuguese nationality and Hong Kong residency and has previously resided in the UK.

His arrest came after he returned to Hong Kong in 2022 to visit family and was subsequently charged with sharing content on social media advocating for Hong Kong’s independence and criticising China. In February, he was found guilty of “secession” and recently received a five-year prison sentence.

Under the law, secession is the offence of advocating for Hong Kong to break away from China.

John, 41, was previously associated with a lesser-known group called the Hong Kong Independence Party, for which he managed social media accounts and a website registered in the UK. The group had campaigned for international intervention in response to China’s governance of Hong Kong, particularly in the aftermath of the 2019 pro-democracy demonstrations.

The pages were shut down in 2022 when John returned to Hong Kong to visit his ailing mother and was arrested by authorities.

He pleaded guilty to “inciting secession” in February.