'A big relief': Ex-Hong Kong lawmaker granted asylum by Australia
:: Adelaide, Australia
:: An exiled former Hong Kong lawmaker hails Australia granting asylum to him and his family
:: Ted Hui, Exiled former Hong Kong lawmaker
"It's really a big relief, for myself and my family, because for the past four years living in Australia, we could not really see the future of how it will look, like where we will be living, where our children will attend school, where my parents will be spending the years, in what countries? So now all these questions are answered, and so it's really a big relief family wise. But deep inside it doesn't come without heaviness, because the asylum is also like a symbol that the days I can return home is very distant away. So I understand that I can be here for a very long time, if not for good. So thinking about that, it's heavy."
:: Hong Kong placed a bounty on Hui over his role in the 2019 pro-democracy protests
"Now this brand of asylum, I think it also symbolizes that Australia is willing to take a step forward in disagreeing with China, even though maintaining a stabilized relationship and economic tie with China. But it gives us more confidence that Australia and will be in line with its allies, in the West, in speaking up for universal values. So now we have more confidence."
Hui received asylum on Friday (August 15), more than four years after leaving Hong Kong, which has offered a bounty for him on criminal charges over the protests.
Hui now works as a lawyer in South Australia, and said the good news for his family came in a week during which he was concerned over Hong Kong's trial of his friend, the pro-democracy businessman Jimmy Lai, on national security charges.
Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong raised concerns with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in a meeting last month about anonymous letters circulated in South Australia offering rewards for information about Hui and his family.
The Australian Federal Police were investigating the matter, Hui said, but added he was used to the threats.
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