A heightened fear for their safety, increased worry for their families, and a desperate search for international support — this is what dominates everyday life for two activists in Britain who are among Hong Kong’s most wanted.
Last month, Hong Kong police announced bounties of HK$1 million (US$128,000) on eight democratic activists living abroad, encouraging the public to pass on information that could lead to their arrest.
Former legislator Nathan Law(羅冠聰) and veteran unionist Christopher Mung (蒙兆達) are among the eight, accused under a sweeping national security law that Beijing imposed on the city to quell dissent following massive 2019 protests. Singled out overnight with the announcement, they woke up in England on July 3 to messages on social media about their fugitive status.
Photo: AFP
“I was shocked,” Mung, 51, said in a recent interview in Britain, saying that he looked into the charge of secession to figure out why he was in the group. He realized “once you (are) targeted by the regime, then you will be charged with whatever excuse.”
“If I were ever found guilty, the only crime should be speaking out the truth for Hong Kong people,” the veteran unionist said.
Law, 30, a familiar face for his role as prominent legislator in Hong Kong’s pro-democracy bloc, said being wanted by the law was not new for him.
Photo: AFP
“But being on a bounty list is definitely something new,” Law said in London, where he was granted asylum in 2021 for his political advocacy. “I had to look into it, what does it entail, and whether it will give a lot of incentive for the people around me... to provide any information of sensitive privacy data about me,” he said.
Suddenly being pushed to think about how to protect his personal information and his daily movements caused “a little bit of anxiety.”
“It also shows the stepping up of Hong Kong government’s intimidation tactics, (in which) they’re not only arresting you — they’re harassing people around you, then they are trying to offer incentive for people to give up your information,” Law said.
Photo: Reuters
Hong Kong’s leader John Lee (李家超) has said the group of eight will be “pursued for life” and “spend their days in fear.”
The US, Britain and Australia — all countries where the activists are currently residing — have condemned Hong Kong for issuing bounties.
‘HARASSING’ FAMILIES, COLLEAGUES
Photo: Reuters
Police have so far taken in at least 30 people in Hong Kong, two-thirds of them family relatives, for questioning over their alleged ties to the eight activists. Most were released within hours and not formally arrested.
During the same period, seven former members of a now-disbanded political party, once led by Law, were arrested for supporting “people who have fled overseas” accused of national security crimes. “That has become the common pattern for the regime — to blackmail the social activists by harassing their colleagues or their family members on the ground,” said Mung, who said he has not set foot in Hong Kong since he left in September 2021.
But he is “worried” about his family in Hong Kong — in the past month, his brother, sister-in-law and nephew were taken in for questioning. “Although they don’t have any relation (to) what I’m doing, I still have low confidence to say they are safe,” Mung said.
The new strategy shows “the long-arm policy of China and of Hong Kong”, said Law, whose family members were questioned by the police even though he has repeatedly said he has severed ties with them.
He also rejected the accusation that he is a “foreign agent”.
“The government doesn’t want to recognise... that Hong Kong people have the agency to resist,” Law said.
Mung agreed, adding that “even those in prison... still hold their belief in their hearts”.
More than 260 people have been arrested under the national security law since its enactment in 2020, with most of the city’s best-known activists jailed or fled overseas.
‘SPEAK THE TRUTH’
Now settled in Britain, Mung remains cautious about disclosing personal information. He wears a cap when going out to avoid being recognized and carries an alarm device with him.
But he is determined to continue his advocacy.
“I will remind myself... the burden on us is still much less than what the people in Hong Kong are bearing,” he said. “If I stopped because of the fear, that will only encourage the Chinese government to do more intimidation.”
Echoing Mung, Law called for “more sanctions” on Hong Kong for its crackdown on civil rights.
“We are here to speak out the truth and what is really happening in Hong Kong, and (urge) the global community to implement a more assertive policy towards China and towards Hong Kong,” Law said. “That wouldn’t change.”
That US assistance was a model for Taiwan’s spectacular development success was early recognized by policymakers and analysts. In a report to the US Congress for the fiscal year 1962, former President John F. Kennedy noted Taiwan’s “rapid economic growth,” was “producing a substantial net gain in living.” Kennedy had a stake in Taiwan’s achievements and the US’ official development assistance (ODA) in general: In September 1961, his entreaty to make the 1960s a “decade of development,” and an accompanying proposal for dedicated legislation to this end, had been formalized by congressional passage of the Foreign Assistance Act. Two
Despite the intense sunshine, we were hardly breaking a sweat as we cruised along the flat, dedicated bike lane, well protected from the heat by a canopy of trees. The electric assist on the bikes likely made a difference, too. Far removed from the bustle and noise of the Taichung traffic, we admired the serene rural scenery, making our way over rivers, alongside rice paddies and through pear orchards. Our route for the day covered two bike paths that connect in Fengyuan District (豐原) and are best done together. The Hou-Feng Bike Path (后豐鐵馬道) runs southward from Houli District (后里) while the
March 31 to April 6 On May 13, 1950, National Taiwan University Hospital otolaryngologist Su You-peng (蘇友鵬) was summoned to the director’s office. He thought someone had complained about him practicing the violin at night, but when he entered the room, he knew something was terribly wrong. He saw several burly men who appeared to be government secret agents, and three other resident doctors: internist Hsu Chiang (許強), dermatologist Hu Pao-chen (胡寶珍) and ophthalmologist Hu Hsin-lin (胡鑫麟). They were handcuffed, herded onto two jeeps and taken to the Secrecy Bureau (保密局) for questioning. Su was still in his doctor’s robes at
Mirror mirror on the wall, what’s the fairest Disney live-action remake of them all? Wait, mirror. Hold on a second. Maybe choosing from the likes of Alice in Wonderland (2010), Mulan (2020) and The Lion King (2019) isn’t such a good idea. Mirror, on second thought, what’s on Netflix? Even the most devoted fans would have to acknowledge that these have not been the most illustrious illustrations of Disney magic. At their best (Pete’s Dragon? Cinderella?) they breathe life into old classics that could use a little updating. At their worst, well, blue Will Smith. Given the rapacious rate of remakes in modern
RSS