The Flee from National Security Law: 12 Hong Kong Youths, Activists and BN(O) Families
While sporadic protests continue in Hong Kong after the implementation of National Security Law on 1 July 2020, inhabitants of the territory are increasingly looking elsewhere. In the immediate aftermath of the National People’s Congress’s announcement, Nathan Law, a prominent activist in the democratic movement, fled to London. However, he was not the first activist to leave the city following the start of the political crisis that was kicked off by the Extradition Bill Saga last year. Other than the United Kingdom, Taiwan, Canada and Germany have become some of the top destinations for people leaving the city. A student involved in the siege and clashes at Chinese University of Hong Kong in November 2019 was recently granted asylum by German authorities.
Image Source: Tyrone Siu/Reuters
On 23 August 2020, 12 Hong Kongers aged 16 to 30, who were heading to Taiwan on a speedboat to seek asylum, were intercepted by Chinese coastguards and remain detained in Shenzhen without access to their family and lawyers of their choice till today. The family members of the detainees have made repeated pleas for their return to Hong Kong. Amnesty International reports that four-family hired lawyers from Mainland China dropped their cases after being threatened by the authorities. The Hong Kong Police has denied previous knowledge of the activists’ attempted escape prior to the notification from mainland authorities. Doubts have been raised over this claim as two surveillance helicopters were revealed to have been situated near the boat’s departure point on the night of arrests. In early September, Carrie Lam, the city’s Chief Executive, said the local government is providing assistance to the 12 while insisting that they will have to face trial in Mainland. On 10th October, another group of 9 people were arrested by Hong Kong Police for providing accommodation and giving the group transport to the boat which they escaped with on 23rd August.
A global campaign to free the 12 activists has since emerged. The twitter #save12HKyouths hashtag has gained traction, with Parliamentarians from the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and beyond taking part in the campaign. Environmentalist Greta Thunberg has also joined the call for the group’s return to Hong Kong, after the direct appeal from the one of Hong Kong’s leading activists Joshua Wong. A member of Radicali Italiani in Turin has engaged in a 12-day hunger strike starting 12 October in solidarity with the detained group. Rallies have taken place in London and Taiwan over the past weekend calling for the group’s release.
Image Source: Benedict Rogers/Twitter
As activists continue to leave Hong Kong, other citizens appear to be planning their moves as well. On 22 October 2020, the UK Government has announced further details for the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) visa that was first introduced in July 2020. Officials estimate that in an ‘extreme’ scenario, over 1 million people from the city could emigrate to the UK in the next five years under the new policy, including up to 500,000 in the first year. The Home Office further suggested that in a more likely scenario, 123,000 to 153,000 people with BNO status and their dependants will be arriving in the UK in the first year and between 258,000 and 322,400 over a five year period. The new route will be open to citizens with BN(O) status and their close family members from January 2021.
Back in Hong Kong, the shadow of National Security law continues to loom. Activist Tony Chung has recently been detained by police officers near the US consulate while attempting to seek asylum on 27 October. Two other former members of the now disbanded Studentlocalism, a student pro-independence group, were arrested on the same day.