Pro-Democracy Activist Tony Chung Flees Hong Kong, Seeks Asylum in the UK

In a daring move, pro-democracy activist Tony Chung, 22, has fled Hong Kong to seek asylum in the UK, breaching a supervision order. Chung, who had been under constant scrutiny and claimed to be compelled by the police to become a paid informant, cited an “enormous amount of stress” as the reason for his escape.

Chung, convicted of advocating for Hong Kong’s secession under the stringent security law, completed his sentence in June. However, he found himself in a situation that he described as “an even bigger and more dangerous prison” upon release. Despite being under a one-year supervision order, Chung applied for and was granted permission to travel to Japan for a holiday.

During his stay in Japan, Chung decided to seek asylum in the UK, expressing his emotional turmoil at the prospect of not returning to Hong Kong. He has now breached the supervision order imposed by Hong Kong authorities.

The five-member inquiry commission, led by former secretary Nagendra Prasad Ghimire, has definitively identified human error as the principal cause of the tragic plane crash involving Yeti Airlines in Pokhara on January 1, 2023. The commission, formed in response to the incident on January 15, submitted its comprehensive report to Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Sudan Kirati. The report underscores the importance of implementing preventive measures to enhance aviation safety.

Chung’s decision to flee follows a pattern of pro-democracy activists leaving Hong Kong, with high-profile activist Agnes Chow also recently announcing her decision not to return to Hong Kong following her studies in Canada. The imposition of a strict national security law by Beijing in 2019 has led to increased restrictions on dissent, resulting in activists facing charges and seeking refuge abroad.

Chung, who was sentenced to three years and seven months for advocating Hong Kong’s independence, claimed that the national security police regularly requested meetings with him, pressuring him to provide information on fellow activists. Despite facing intimidation, Chung resisted disclosing sensitive information. He revealed feeling under constant scrutiny, with the police offering him money after meetings, causing guilt but leaving him feeling he had “no choice.”

Chung’s escape raises concerns about the tightening restrictions and surveillance faced by pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong under the national security law. His decision to seek asylum in the UK highlights the lengths activists are willing to go to escape persecution and continue their fight for democracy.

BBC