The Hong Kong Democracy Council (HKDC), a U.S. organization, revealed that five pro-democracy protesters under the age of 30 from Hong Kong arrived in the United States on Wednesday (13), seeking asylum and permission to start a new life. In a statement, Hong Kong Democracy Council Director Chu Mak-man said the protesters arrived in Washington, D.C., after participating in Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement, facing arrests and charges related to their protest activities, and fleeing Hong Kong by boat in July 2020, a treacherous process.
The New York Times referred to the circumstances under which the five men left Hong Kong at that time. One of the protesters, who wished to remain anonymous, said the Taiwanese authorities treated them well and they were eventually rescued by the Taiwan Coast Guard. They finally arrived at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport this month.
In the statement, the protester thanked all those who care about Hong Kong, the U.S. government and the HKDC (Hong Kong Democratic Committee) for their help and support, adding, “We are safe in the U.S. for now. From the moment we left Hong Kong, we felt a little uneasy, worried and had mixed feelings”. He went on to quote “As long as there is a faint light, there is no such thing as darkness” to encourage the people of Hong Kong in distress.
The New York Times reported that Zhu assisted the class of protesters to seek asylum in Hong Kong, and quoted him as saying that the five could arrive in the United States for humanitarian reasons. In a statement, Chu said, “Although the five people have left their families and the only home they know, they are now physically safe. They are very fortunate compared to the more than 10,000 Hong Kong people who are still facing arrest, awaiting trial and behind bars for exercising their guaranteed democratic rights.” Compared to the 12 Hong Kong people arrested by the Chinese authorities, they are very lucky to have the help of the United States and their supporters.
The dangerous journey of these protesters illustrates that it remains difficult for Hong Kong people to seek safe haven in the U.S. and that they have limited options for getting there safely,” Chu said. Their deadly journey is yet another example of the rapidly deteriorating human rights situation in Hong Kong and the growing humanitarian crisis we are now facing.” He urged the United States and all free nations to open their borders and doors and “work together to preserve the lives and futures of freedom-loving Hong Kong people.” Chu also urged the current and incoming U.S. administrations to continue to sanction those responsible for mass arrests and repression in Hong Kong and to “welcome all protesters and their immediate family members who have fled political persecution.”
Regarding the agenda for the new U.S. Congress, Chu urged Congress to re-enact relevant bills, such as the Hong Kong People’s Freedom and Choice Act of 2020 and the Hong Kong Safe Haven Act, to expand access to asylum for Hong Kong people in the United States.
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