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Fearing Arrest for Pro-democracy Activity in Hong Kong, Protestor Flees to
Taiwan

Joyce Huang

   As Beijing tightens control over Hong Kong,someHong Kong residentswho
   participated in months of pro-democracy protestsare opting to
   self-exile to avoid being charged with the vaguely defined offense of
   rioting, which can carry a 10-year prison sentence.

   A21-year-old Hong Konger,Daniel is one of them.A critic of China, he
   asked that his full name not be used.

   When he sawthousands ofpeople marching on the street on June 9, 2019,
   he knew it was time.The Civil Human Rights Front said over 1 million
   peopleparticipated, while police estimatedthere were240,000protestors,
   according to the [1]South China Morning Post.

   "At that moment, I saw a little bit of hope, so I started to
   participate,"Danieltold VOA Mandarin. "But what made me angry is
   although a million people were marching, the (Hong Kong) government
   didn't care, and mocked them by saying, 'Thank you for coming out to
   show how Hong Kong has the freedom of gathering and marching.'"

   That anger motivatedDaniel. Hebegan standing in the frontline of
   protestsmaking himselfa targetforpolice pepper spray and bean bag
   shots.

   His mothercriticized him, saying hesoldhis soul to the
   Americans,andfor"causing disruption in Hong Kong."Her words presaged
   the official Chinese position, which emerged whenForeign Ministry
   spokeswoman [2]HuaChunyingcriticized the protests, sayingataJuly 30
   press conference that the protestswere,"As you all know, they are
   somehow the work of the U.S."But Daniel denied of any U.S. involvement
   in his action, calling his mother's words "ridiculous."

   'The fall of Hong Kong'

   in 2019,Hong Kongmarkedthe 22nd anniversary ofthehandover from Britain
   to China on July 1. In the protestors' eyes, it was "the fall of Hong
   Kong" said Daniel.

   Starting with that morning with the flag-raising ceremony, there were
   waves protests and police confrontations. He said thathe and friends
   werebeatenor pepper sprayed by those whom they calledthe "black
   police"in Hong Kong.After that, hundreds of protesters decided to storm
   the legislative council.

   "The Hong Kong police started the attack at midnight," Daniel recalled.
   "It was brutal. They fired'¦bean bag shots, pepper spray and tear gas.
   Unfortunately, I was shot in the thigh at that time."

   A bean bag shot, deflected by his right thigh, wounded him in his left
   thigh.

   After the occupation of the Legislative Council, the Hong Kong police
   began searching for witnesses and clues online. Any protestor who had
   rushed into the Legislative Council, left fingerprints or other
   evidence, or had taken off a mask and been photographed by the
   monitors, was risked arrest.

   Daniel and his friends fled to Taiwan.Later that month,authorities
   [3]charged44 people with rioting. Under Hong Kong law, that is an
   unlawful assembly of three or more people whereany person "commits a
   breach of the peace", and a conviction can carry a 10-year prison
   sentence, according to Reuters.

   In mid-August, Daniel's mother toldhimthe police and some people who
   didn't identify themselves had visited the family home with a ruling
   saying he was wanted by the police.

   Now, after 11 months in Taiwan, Daniel heardfrom news accounts that one
   protester, who once fought at his side, was sentenced to four years in
   prison for the offense of rioting.He said he was lucky to leave Hong
   Kong in time.

   "While in Taiwan, I have continued to support Hong Kong, so I am in
   line with what the (Hong Kong) government has said is assisting riots,
   planning riots and so on. I would face a sentence of more than 10 years
   if I were arrested back in Hong Kong," he said.

   Last month,the China's National People's Congress (NPC), voted in favor
   of a proposal toacommittee to formulate national security measures to
   be directly enacted in Hong Kong.The measures will likely allow
   mainland security agents to be positioned in Hong Kong to root out
   behavior and activities that constitute what Beijing defines as
   subversion, secession, terrorism and foreign interference.Itis
   anticipated the law will be enacted later this year.

References

   1. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3013725/hong-kong-edge-crowds-gather-ultimate-showdown-against
   2. https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/31/asia/us-china-hong-kong-interference-intl-hnk/index.html
   3. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-protests-court/hong-kong-charges-44-protesters-with-rioting-grants-bail-idUSKCN1UQ0B6

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