Nathan Law announced Thursday that he had fled abroad.
Hong Kong:
Nathan Law, one of Hong Kong’s most prominent young democracy activists, announced Thursday that he had fled abroad in response to Beijing’s imposition of a radical security law on the city.
“I have already left Hong Kong and am continuing advocacy work internationally,” Law said in a short message to journalists, refusing to say which country he had been to.
“Based on a risk assessment, I will not reveal too many details about my personal situation and situation,” added the message.
The revelation law had left the city when the local government issued a statement confirming that a popular protest slogan used last year is now illegal under the new Beijing law.
“Liberating Hong Kong, Revolution of our time” has become a clear-sighted call for pro-democracy protesters over the past year, chanted by a huge crowd and glued to banners.
For some, this represents real aspirations to separate Hong Kong from China. But for many others, it is more of a cry for democracy and the expression of growing frustration with the power of Beijing.
The law shouted the slogan in a video message to a US congressional committee on Wednesday, shortly after the implementation of the new security legislation.
In a statement, the Hong Kong government said the sentence was now illegal because it “contains clues to Hong Kong’s independence, or to Hong Kong’s alienation from China, or to its status change legal, or the overthrow of the state. “
It confirms that some peaceful political opinions have become illegal since the law came into force on Tuesday evening.
On Wednesday, the first arrests were made under the law, mainly for demonstrators found in possession of flags or stickers favorable to independence.
Law was a founding member of Demosisto, a pro-democracy party that was disbanded earlier this week in response to the security law.
The party campaigned for democracy and for the Hong Kong people to have more say in how the city is run, but they did not advocate independence.
Nonetheless, Law and other prominent party members such as former student leader Joshua Wong have been defamed by Beijing, often described as “black hands” and separatists who plotted with foreigners to undermine China.
He and Wong both became household names as student leaders at the 2014 Democracy Demonstrations.
Law said in a Facebook article on Thursday that he watched Hong Kong as its plane flew away.
“Looking at the magnificence of Hong Kong from the plane, this image became an unforgettable scene in my mind,” he wrote.
“I hope the day comes when I can go back to Hong Kong and I can always be that young man who hasn’t forgotten his original aspirations.”
“I wish good luck to Hong Kong and hope that glory will soon return to the city,” he added.
