Ted Hui, a former lawmaker accused of playing a role in the massive demonstrations, and Tony Chung, an activist who was imprisoned under Hong Kong’s sweeping national security law, both announced over the weekend that they have received asylum in Australia and Britain, respectively, where they currently reside.
Difficulty of activists are attempting to flee Hong Kong authorities. Since Beijing enacted a national security law that essentially criminalizes dissent in the China-ruled city in 2020, civil liberties have greatly decreased.
Penalties for espionage and sabotage, as well as 14 years in prison, can range up to life in prison.
Hui, who fled Hong Kong in December 2020, has been a part of a group of foreign activists who have received rewards totaling up to $1127,800 from the police. The former lawmaker is practicing law in Adelaide right now.
The outspoken pro-democracy lawmaker is known for obstructing a legislative session by placing a rotten plant inside the chamber to halt a debate over a bill that would make insulting the Chinese national anthem illegal. He was subsequently fined 52, 000 Hong Kong dollars ($6, 600) for the act.
He announced on Saturday that protection visas have been granted to him and his family on Facebook.
The Australian government, both present and former, deserves my sincere thanks, Hui wrote. My family will never take for granted the values of freedom, justice, and compassion that this decision embodies.
He expressed regret for the forced exile he was in. I can’t help but feel depressed when people around me say “congratulations” to me despite my sincere gratitude. How do you congratulate a political refugee who has “missed his hometown”? he wrote.
I would never have considered moving to a foreign country if it weren’t for political persecution. Exiles have no home, but immigrants can always go back to their hometowns to see their relatives at any time.
Chung, who emigrated to the United Kingdom, supported the independence of Hong Kong, and in 2020 he received a sentence for secession and money laundering. He was given a supervision order, which included a trip to Japan and a trip to the United Kingdom as well.
He expressed his excitement over receiving a five-year residency permit and refugee status in a post on the social media platform Threads on Sunday. He claimed that despite his difficulties over the past few years, including persistent mental health issues, he continues to be active.
The activists’ statuses were not immediately criticized by the British and Australian authorities.
Hong Kong’s government issued a statement on Saturday condemning “the harboring of criminals in any form by any country,” but it did not comment directly on the allegations.
Source: Aljazeera
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