Germany Says Rights Situation In HK Is 'good'

Germany's Foreign Ministry has said that it considers the human rights situation in Hong Kong to be "good as a whole", after it granted asylum to two people from the SAR.

The ministry made the comments late on Wednesday, adding: "At the same time, we are increasingly concerned about the diminishing space for the political opposition and a gradual erosion of freedom of opinion and the press, particularly in connection with sensitive political issues."

Germany has confirmed that it granted asylum to two people from Hong Kong last year, but has not confirmed the identity of the pair.

The New York Times reported that activists Ray Wong, 25, and Alan Li, 27, had come forward to say they had been granted refugee status by the German government.

Two years ago, the two were facing rioting charges over the 2016 Lunar new year clashes in Mong Kok, which erupted after a dispute over the clearance of food vendors. Pitched street battles saw mobs attack police officers with bricks and sticks.

They skipped bail and fled to Germany in 2017 and applied for protection – which they said was approved last May. (AP/RTHK)