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Democracy Activist Nathan Law: A "Fantasy"
Photo: Kin Cheung / dpa
The prominent Hong Kong democracy activist Nathan Law has claimed asylum in Great Britain.
In a guest article for the Guardian, Law wrote that he was the first ex-parliamentarian of the former British crown colony to have opted for a life in exile.
Law had already left for Great Britain in the summer.
A highly controversial security law is linked to the fight for human and freedoms rights in Hong Kong.
China passed this at the end of June.
It is directed against activities that China sees as subversive, separatist or terrorist.
It is the most extensive encroachment on Hong Kong's autonomy to date and gives China's state security extensive powers.
Hong Kong's democratic opposition believes the law will target them.
His choice fell on Great Britain instead of the USA because he wanted to draw attention to the danger that China posed in Europe, Law wrote.
While there is now a consensus across party lines in America, many in the UK and the EU still see China as a potential strategic partner.
But that is a »fantasy«, so the activist.
Those who denounce human rights violations in China are silenced, religious groups are suppressed and Hong Kong companies that support the democracy movement are punished, Law said.
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asa / dpa