(Adnkronos) – In a Hong Kong increasingly in Beijing’s orbit, the decisions of the United Kingdom and Australia to grant asylum to two democracy activists have aroused considerable anger. Hong Kong authorities have summoned the Australian consul general and the UK consul general to express “strong opposition,” reports Hkfp. And Eric Chan, Hong Kong’s number two, reiterated that the authorities of the former British colony “are opposed to countries harboring offenders” and “very disappointed by any behavior that offers hospitality to criminals on any pretext.”
Harsh words came after former lawmaker Ted Hui and activist Tony Chung announced over the weekend that they had been granted asylum in Australia and refugee status in the UK with a five-year residence permit, respectively. For Hong Kong authorities, the arrest warrants against Hui and Chung are “absolutely justified, necessary and legitimate” and the courts of what is formally a “special administrative region of China” operate “independently and fairly.” The reiterated call is to “end interference” in Hong Kong’s internal affairs.
Hui is accused of “inciting secession” and “colluding with foreign forces” under the controversial “national security” law imposed by Beijing in 2020 for the former British colony. He has lived in Adelaide since 2021 and has been on Hong Kong’s wanted list since 2023, Hkfp recalls. Chung left Hong Kong in 2023, after serving a sentence for “inciting secession” and money laundering, but ended up on the wanted list again in 2024.
