The Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a stern warning on Friday, emphasizing that secessionists cannot evade legal responsibility, following reports that a former leader of a Hong Kong secessionist group sought asylum in the UK. Tony Chung, the 22-year-old founder of Studentlocalism, revealed in a Facebook post that he fled to the UK after completing a jail sentence for secession and money laundering in Hong Kong.
Chung claimed to have obtained permission for a Christmas trip to Okinawa from Hong Kong police before traveling to the UK via Japan. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, stressed that Hong Kong is governed by the rule of law, and violators will face legal consequences. She added that relying on external forces to escape accountability is futile, and secessionists will be held responsible under the law.
Chung’s departure follows a similar move by Agnes Chow, another student secessionist involved in the 2019 protests, who fled to Canada earlier this month. Hong Kong officials condemned Chow for avoiding legal responsibilities, and Chief Executive John Lee vowed to pursue fugitives relentlessly. Media reports also indicated that Hong Kong police questioned Chow’s parents after she failed to meet bail conditions.