HONG KONG—Joshua Wong and two other prominent young activists face jail terms after pleading guilty to inciting a large protest outside police headquarters last year, the latest key figures to be targeted by authorities over a monthslong antigovernment uprising that angered Beijing.
Mr. Wong and two other former student leaders and members of the now disbanded Demosisto political group—Agnes Chow and Ivan Lam—pleaded guilty to charges related to a high-profile siege of the police building as street protests heated up in June last year. The three will be held in custody until the presiding magistrate hands down a sentence on Dec. 2.
Speaking before the court hearing on Monday, the trio said they were prepared for immediate imprisonment. They were accused of rallying a crowd of thousands that laid siege to the headquarters of the Hong Kong Police Force on June 21 last year. They were venting anger over the use of force by officers against pro-democracy protesters earlier in the month.
“Perhaps the authorities wish me to stay in prison one term after another,” said Mr. Wong, 24 years old, who faces other charges over the 2019 movement. Sending activists to jail won’t deter them from fighting for greater freedoms, he said, “so much that we are willing to sacrifice the freedom of our own.”
Police have arrested dozens of well-known activists this year for their alleged roles in the 2019 social upheaval, including veteran democracy advocates like Martin Lee, media baron Jimmy Lai and members of several opposition political and activist groups. Chinese officials and state media have long called for well-known pro-democracy fighters to be given tough punishments.