Australia grants asylum to Hong Kong pro-democracy activist
Hui said on Saturday he had received written notice from the Australian Department of Home Affairs approving his claim, and that his wife, children and parents had also been granted visas.
'When people around me say 'congratulations' to me, although I politely thank them, I can't help but feel sad in my heart. How to congratulate a political refugee who misses his hometown?' he wrote.
'If it weren't for political persecution, I would never have thought of living in a foreign land. Immigrants can always return to their hometowns to visit relatives at any time. Exiles have no home.'
The Home Affairs Department did not immediately respond to emailed questions sent after business hours. The Hong Kong government and China's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to questions about the decision.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Beijing last month as part of his administration's years-long push to improve ties with China.
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A former Democratic Party politician, Hui left Hong Kong in late 2020 after facing criminal charges over the 2019 pro-democracy protests that escalated when the city's pro-mainland chief executive, Carrie Lam, tried to rush through a new extradition law, which effectively meant anyone could be sent to the mainland for anything that offended the Chinese Communist Party.
In May, Hui told this masthead he had been left in 'a dangerous situation'.
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Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Ted Hui has been granted asylum in Australia, the former lawmaker said, more than four years after he left Hong Kong, where he faces criminal charges over the 2019 pro-democracy protests. Hui said he received written notice from the Australian Department of Home Affairs on Friday approving his claim and that his wife, children and parents were also granted visas. "When people around me say 'congratulations' to me, although I politely thank them, I can't help but feel sad in my heart. How to congratulate a political refugee who misses his hometown?" posted on Facebook. "If it weren't for political persecution, I would never have thought of living in a foreign land. Immigrants can always return to their home towns to visit relatives at any time; Exiles have no home." The Home Affairs Department did not immediately respond to emailed questions sent after business hours. The Hong Kong government said in a statement it was "against the harbouring of criminals in any form by any country". China's foreign ministry did not respond to questions about the decision. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Beijing last month as part of his administration's years-long push to improve ties with China. A former Democratic Party lawmaker, Hui left Hong Kong in late 2020 after facing criminal charges over the 2019 pro-democracy protests. In July, Hong's national security police issued fresh arrest warrants for Hui — including three other Australian residents — accusing him of subversion, with a bounty of at least HK$200,000 ($38,807). Fellow Hong Kong activist Tony Chung said on Sunday he had been granted asylum by Britain, in a post on his X account. He was sentenced to three years and seven months in prison in late 2021 after being convicted of secession and money laundering. Pro-democracy businessman Jimmy Lai is on trial in Hong Kong on charges related to a national security law imposed by Beijing and alleged sedition.
ABC News
10 hours ago
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Former pro-democracy politician Ted Hui — who is wanted by authorities in Hong Kong — has been granted asylum in Australia. He said the Australian government granted him a protection visa this week, with asylum also extending to his wife, children and parents. "I express my sincere gratitude to the government of Australia — both present and former — for recognising our need for asylum and granting us this protection," Mr Hui said in a Facebook post on Saturday. Hong Kong has seen dissent quashed since Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law following huge — and at times violent — democracy protests that erupted in 2019. Mr Hui was a high-profile participant at the time in those protests and was arrested in China. He later settled in Adelaide. A vocal critic of Hong Kong and Beijing authorities, Mr Hui is among several overseas activists targeted in 2023 by police bounties of $HK1 million ($200,000) each. The bounties are seen as largely symbolic, given that they affect people living abroad in nations unlikely to extradite political activists to Hong Kong or China. Hong Kong's government has not commented directly on Mr Hui's case; however, a spokesperson said on Saturday local time that those who absconded should not think they could evade "criminal liability". "Any country that harbours Hong Kong criminals in any form shows contempt for the rule of law, grossly disrespects Hong Kong's legal systems and barbarically interferes in the affairs of Hong Kong," the spokesperson said. Mr Hui ended his Facebook post by calling on Canberra to do more for those who "face long sentences for simply defending basic democratic rights". He urged the Australian government not to forget the other Hong Kong pro-democracy activists who remained jailed, including tycoon Jimmy Lai, who has been behind bars since 2020. "Australia must do more to rescue them and to speak up for their humanity," Mr Hui said. "Its stance matters internationally, and its protection of Hongkongers sets a precedent for other democracies." Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong previously condemned Hong Kong's arrest warrants and bounties. "Freedom of expression and assembly are essential to our democracy, and we will support those in Australia who exercise those rights," she said in 2023. "Australia remains deeply concerned by the continuing erosion of Hong Kong's rights, freedoms and autonomy." ABC/Wires
Sky News AU
12 hours ago
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Former Hong Kong lawmaker and outspoken pro-democracy activist Ted Hui granted asylum in Australia months after receiving threatening letter
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