Political activist and ex-legislator from Hong Kong receives refuge in Australia as a political asylum candidate - Australia offers political refuge to a former pro-democracy legislator from Hong Kong
In the heart of Asia, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region once stood as a beacon of free speech within China. However, in recent years, this image has been tarnished by a crackdown on pro-democracy activists, with the introduction of the National Security Law in 2020 intensifying the pressure.
This crackdown has not spared those who have fled the region. Baggio Leung Hiu-kwong, a former pro-democracy legislator, is now residing in Adelaide, Australia, where he was granted asylum. Despite his new home, he continues to advocate for the release of democracy activists detained in Hong Kong.
In July 2025, Hong Kong police announced bounties for information leading to the arrest of 19 overseas pro-democracy activists, including some in the United States and Canada. The bounties range from HK$200,000 to a staggering HK$1 million for four activists already wanted by the authorities. This move is part of Hong Kong's efforts to target individuals under the National Security Law, which has been criticized by countries like the U.S. and Canada for transnational repression.
Interestingly, the bounty offered is for the arrest, not the conviction, of the activists. This suggests a broader strategy to silence dissent abroad, a concern shared by the Canadian and U.S. governments. Despite these international reactions, Hong Kong continues to pursue legal actions against these activists.
The bounty list includes prominent democracy activists, which implies that less prominent activists may also be at risk. This has led many opposition figures to flee Hong Kong, seeking refuge in other countries.
Leung, who participated in the 2019 pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, has not been specifically mentioned in the current bounty list. However, his advocacy for democracy activists and his calls for Australia to do more to save them on Facebook are a testament to his unwavering commitment to the cause.
The situation in Hong Kong is a complex one, with the future of free speech and democracy hanging in the balance. As the world watches, the international community continues to express its opposition to the bounties and the crackdown on pro-democracy activists, hoping for a return to the days when Hong Kong was a bastion of free speech in China.
[1] South China Morning Post. (2025, July 1). Hong Kong offers bounties for information leading to the arrest of 19 pro-democracy activists abroad. Retrieved from https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3137752/hong-kong-offers-bounties-information-leading-arrest-19
[2] BBC News. (2025, July 2). Hong Kong offers bounties for pro-democracy activists abroad. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-57887056
[3] Al Jazeera. (2025, August 1). Hong Kong's pro-democracy activists: Living in exile. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/1/hong-kong-pro-democracy-activists-living-in-exile
- The Commission, in the context of the bounties offered for pro-democracy activists abroad, could potentially be consulted to address concerns about transnational repression and the impact on freedom of speech and political migration.
- As the Hong Kong government continues to pursue legal actions against pro-democracy activists overseas, escalating the issue of crime-and-justice, the general-news media have consistently covered the war-and-conflicts-like scenario happening in the region while politics plays a significant role in shaping the responses from the international community.
- In the midst of the ongoing crackdown on pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong and its consequences, migration patterns could see an increase as more figures seek refuge in other countries, raising concerns about the protection of refugees and asylum seekers from political persecution.
