'Party Had No Warning Over Ted Hui's Exile'

Democratic Party chairman Wu Chi-wai said the party was expecting its former legislator Ted Hui to return from Denmark on Friday, and had no warning he would go into exile.

Hui made the announcement on Thursday night and said he was resigning from the Democratic Party.

Hui said the new national security law meant he could end up being jailed for decades for simply talking about human rights in Hong Kong.

Speaking to RTHK's Hong Kong Today on Friday, Wu said people were angered by government efforts to suppress dissent, and would find other ways to fight for freedom and democracy, not just in Hong Kong but from overseas.

"His departure will simply tell the international community that the legal system in Hong Kong is not trustworthy and has not provided any fair trials in Hong Kong, and as a result, people have to reconsider what will be the way to fight in the future."

Hui faces a number of protest-related prosecutions.

Political commentator Chung Kim-wah told the same RTHK programme that he believed the refusal to grant bail to people detained under the national security law was prompting people, such as Ted Hui, to flee the SAR.

"Under this law, people who are being arrested by the government are not even allowed to have fair legal rights, or they will be refused bail, so I think some people are really uncertain about their future and feel danger under the situation," Chung said.

In response to enquiries, the Security Bureau and the Hong Kong Police Force said they condemned anyone who absconded and tried to hide from their legal responsibilities. They said they would explore legal means to try to bring anyone back to face trial.