Tony Chung, the former head of a Hong Kong independence faction, has disclosed his relocation to Britain, announcing his formal application for political asylum.
This bold move follows his sentencing in 2021 under China’s national security law, marking a significant turn in his struggle against a contentious legal framework
Chung, then 20, received a 43-month prison term in November 2021 for charges related to efforts aimed at separating Hong Kong from China, coupled with allegations of money laundering. His indictment under the extensive national security law of 2020 led to the denial of bail, adding to the gravity of his legal situation.
The backdrop to Chung’s ordeal unfolds against the turbulent events of Beijing’s imposition of the national security law on Hong Kong in 2020, a reactive measure amid sustained anti-government demonstrations. This legislation carries severe penalties, encompassing acts like subversion, secession, collusion with foreign entities, and extremism, punishable by imprisonment, including life sentences.
Addressing his recent escape to Britain, Chung took to Facebook, revealing the coercive tactics employed by national security officers and their persistent attempts to recruit him in the past six months. He disclosed a harrowing account of declining health, citing consultations with both Western and Chinese medical professionals attributing his condition to extreme mental stress and psychological factors, ultimately compromising his immune system.
The distressing trauma compounded by unrelenting surveillance prompted Chung’s departure from Hong Kong. In an interview with the Washington Post, he recounted his forced participation in a compulsory “deradicalization” program during his detention, where authorities asserted that detainees had been “manipulated” by the United States. Chung’s release in June 2023, facilitated by good behavior, as reported by the Washington Post, marked a turning point in his tumultuous journey.
Chung, once at the helm of the disbanded Hong Kong independence group Studentlocalism, faced allegations from prosecutors indicating his role as an administrator for various Facebook pages linked to the U.S. branch of Studentlocalism and an entity named the Initiative Independence Party. Law enforcement officials seized pro-independence paraphernalia including T-shirts, flags, and books from Chung’s residence during the investigation.
Expressing his intentions via Facebook, Chung articulated his aspirations to resume his studies, hoping to contribute as a Hong Kong exile. This move underlines the ongoing struggle for autonomy and dissent against China’s governance since the former British colony’s return to Chinese sovereignty in 1997, amidst allegations of unfulfilled promises of autonomy, fervently denied by Beijing but strongly advocated by democracy activists and several Western governments.
