Hong Kong activist Tony Chung granted asylum in UK

Tuesday 19 August 2025 - 09:30

By: Sahili Aya

Hong Kong activist Tony Chung granted asylum in UK

Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Tony Chung, one of the youngest people ever imprisoned under the city’s national security law, has been granted asylum in the United Kingdom nearly two years after his escape. The 24-year-old announced the decision on social media, publishing the letter he received from the British Home Office.

The document, dated August 4, 2025, confirmed his refugee status and granted him a five-year residence permit. “We accept that you have a well-founded fear of persecution and that you cannot return to your country,” the letter stated. Chung described his reaction as “pure excitement,” adding that after more than a year and a half of waiting, he could finally begin a new chapter of his life.

Chung also shared that he has struggled with mental health issues since his 2020 arrest and admitted to fearing the idea of “planning for the future.” He hopes eventually to secure permanent residency in the UK.

In response, Hong Kong authorities condemned the move, urging foreign governments to stop “interfering in China’s internal affairs.” Officials insisted that prosecutions in the city are based on “facts and evidence” and are unrelated to individuals’ political positions or views.

Chung fled Hong Kong in late 2023, traveling first to Okinawa, Japan, before buying a one-way ticket to London. At the age of 20, he had been sentenced to three and a half years in prison for “secession” under Beijing’s national security law, introduced after the 2019 pro-democracy protests.

Founder of the group Student Localism, which called for Hong Kong’s independence, Chung was later released under strict conditions. He has since claimed he was pressured by police to act as an informant, saying his “personal safety” and “life were in danger.”