Beijing:
China today accused the UK of sheltering “wanted criminals” immediately after prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Nathan Law mentioned he had been granted political asylum there.
London and Beijing are at bitter odds more than the fate of Hong Kong, with Britain accusing China of tearing up its guarantee to sustain crucial liberties in the former colonial territory for 50 years immediately after the handover.
Law mentioned on Wednesday he had been granted asylum in Britain, immediately after fleeing the semi-autonomous territory following the introduction of sweeping Chinese safety laws.
“The UK is clearly a platform for Hong Kong independence agitators, and provides so-called shelter for wanted criminals,” foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters.
Describing Law as a “criminal suspect,” Zhao referred to as the move “gross interference” in Hong Kong’s judiciary.
“The UK should immediately correct its mistake, and stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China’s internal affairs,” he added.
Law, a 27-year-old former Hong Kong lawmaker and student activist, fled to the UK in July 2020 in the weeks immediately after the National Security Law, opposed by pro-democracy protesters, was imposed.
Law wrote on Twitter that he had been granted asylum in the UK immediately after many interviews more than a period of 4 months.
“The fact that I am wanted under the National Security Law shows that I am exposed to severe political persecution and am unlikely to return to Hong Kong without risk,” he wrote.
The activist highlighted the plight of other asylum seekers in the UK from Hong Kong who may well not have the identical weight of proof behind their claims.
“I hope that my case can help the Home Office understand more about the complicated situation in Hong Kong.
“To absolutely free more protesters from Beijing’s authoritarian oppression, the Home Office could take into consideration more extensive proof,” he added.
Champion of democracy
Law’s fate and the fate of potentially millions of Hong Kongers who Britain has offered a route to escape China’s crackdown, has become a point of bitter diplomatic contention between Beijing and London, which ceded the former colonial territory in 1997.
China said earlier this year it will not recognise the British National (Overseas) passport for Hong Kongers because of a new visa scheme introduced in January offering a pathway to full UK citizenship for those who want to leave the territory.
Beijing and London have in recent weeks also disagreed over Chinese sanctions against four UK entities and nine individuals including lawmakers that have spoken out in defence of China’s Uyghur Muslim minority.
Last year, Britain protested at jail terms handed to three leading activists from the pro-democracy party Demosisto, which Law cofounded.
The party disbanded on the same day China’s new security legislation was imposed in Hong Kong.
In exile, Law has continued to champion the cause of pro-democracy groups in Hong Kong on social media.
Last month, he hit out at mass trials of activists in Hong Kong saying that they showed that “the Chinese Communist party nakedly abuses its powers and makes use of the courts to demonstrate that energy”.