'Extradition Proposal Made Me Speak Out'

A former Hong Kong independence activist who has been granted refugee status in Germany says the SAR's proposal to change its extradition laws led him to speak out about his decision to seek asylum in Europe.

Ray Wong who took part in 2016 protests dubbed the "Fishball Revolution" which saw the city's worst violence for decades was due to stand trial on riot charges but fled Hong Kong in November 2017. His co-defendant, Alan Li, said he had also been granted asylum in Germany.

City authorities issued arrest warrants for the pair but the high-profile trial went on without them and eventually saw Hong Kong's best-known independence activist Edward Leung jailed for six years in 2018.

Wong said not even his family had known where he was until last May when his refugee status was approved. He said he didn't dare contact them fearing authorities would monitor their communication.

Wong said he had decided to break his silence as Hong Kong pushes a highly controversial bill through the city's legislature which would allow extraditions to the mainland.

"The most important thing is to continue speaking out, and tell everyone Hong Kong people would not accept this law, that Hong Kong people would not accept this kind of ruling from China," Wong said over the phone.

While abroad, Wong said his political stance has softened.

"Now I won't advocate Hong Kong independence. I think the most important thing for Hong Kong is its human rights situation."

"Secondly, it's our identity. If we lost our identity, Hong Kong people will disappear in the game." (AFP)