Two prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy activists, Tony Chung and Ted Hui, have been granted asylum in Britain and Australia, respectively.
Chung, who advocated for Hong Kong’s independence, was sentenced to almost four years in prison for secession and money laundering in 2020.
Hui, a former lawmaker, faced trial for his role in the 2019 anti-government protests. Both activists announced their asylum status over the weekend, with Chung expressing excitement at receiving refugee status in Britain along with a five-year residency permit.
Chung, who fled to Britain via Japan after being released on a supervision order, stated that despite persistent mental health problems, he remains committed to his activism.
Hui, who fled Hong Kong in December 2020 and is now working as a lawyer in Adelaide, announced on Facebook that he and his family have been granted protection visas.
“I express my sincere gratitude to the Government of Australia – both present and former – for recognising our need for asylum and granting us this protection,” Hui wrote. “This decision reflects values of freedom, justice, and compassion that my family will never take for granted.”
The asylum grants come amid a crackdown on civil liberties in Hong Kong, where Beijing imposed a national security law in 2020, essentially criminalizing dissent.
Penalties under the law can range from 14 years to life imprisonment for endangering national security, treason, and insurrection.
Hong Kong authorities have offered rewards of up to 1 million Hong Kong dollars ($127,800) for information on overseas activists, including Hui.
In response to the asylum grants, Hong Kong’s government issued a statement condemning “the harbouring of criminals in any form by any country.”
The statement read, “any country that harbours Hong Kong criminals in any form shows contempt for the rule of law, grossly disrespects Hong Kong’s legal systems and barbarically interferes in the affairs of Hong Kong.”
Hui expressed regret for the exile he has been forced into, writing, “when people around me say ‘congratulations’ to me, although I politely thank them, I can’t help but feel sad in my heart. How to congratulate a political refugee who misses his hometown?”
He added, “if it weren’t for political persecution, I would never have thought of living in a foreign land. Immigrants can always return to their home towns to visit relatives at any time; Exiles have no home”.