Exiled Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Ted Hui stated on Saturday (August 16) that he has been granted asylum in Australia, and called on the Australian government to take further actions to help people like Jimmy Lai.
Writing from Adelaide on Facebook, Hui said he received written notification from the Australian Department of Home Affairs on Friday (15th), granting him an asylum visa, officially confirming his refugee status and allowing him to reside in Australia as a permanent resident. His wife, children, and parents, who accompanied him, were also granted the same visa as family members.
He said that on a personal level, this offers relief for his family, and that their new permanent resident status under asylum removes much of the uncertainty and pressure they have long faced.
Hui believes that, politically, the Australian government’s decision to grant him asylum is especially meaningful. "Under the leadership of the Labor government, Australia–China relations are 'stabilizing' and bilateral trade is improving. Many commentaries have expressed concerns that Australia might adopt an appeasement policy towards China and refrain from taking a stand on universal values such as democracy and freedom in order to maintain trade and the domestic economy."
He wrote that the Australian government’s decision is not only a tangible expression of its asylum policy, but also a position grounded in the values of democracy and freedom.
He also said that the extradition treaty between Australia and Hong Kong is currently suspended, but even if the agreement is resumed in the future, since he has obtained official refugee status, the possibility of him being deported to Hong Kong on political grounds has now been eliminated.
In English, Hui also appealed to the Australian government, “not to forget those still suffering in Hong Kong prisons,” and mentioned Jimmy Lai, founder of Next Digital Group, and the individuals involved in the pro-democracy legislative primary case in Hong Kong.
Jimmy Lai was arrested by Hong Kong’s National Security Department in August 2020, and was formally charged in December that year, becoming the first person charged under the Hong Kong National Security Law for "colluding with foreign or external forces to endanger national security."
As for the primary election case, a total of 47 people were involved, of whom 45 have been convicted, and some have already served their sentences and been released.
Writing from Adelaide on Facebook, Hui said he received written notification from the Australian Department of Home Affairs on Friday (15th), granting him an asylum visa, officially confirming his refugee status and allowing him to reside in Australia as a permanent resident. His wife, children, and parents, who accompanied him, were also granted the same visa as family members.
He said that on a personal level, this offers relief for his family, and that their new permanent resident status under asylum removes much of the uncertainty and pressure they have long faced.
Hui believes that, politically, the Australian government’s decision to grant him asylum is especially meaningful. "Under the leadership of the Labor government, Australia–China relations are 'stabilizing' and bilateral trade is improving. Many commentaries have expressed concerns that Australia might adopt an appeasement policy towards China and refrain from taking a stand on universal values such as democracy and freedom in order to maintain trade and the domestic economy."
He wrote that the Australian government’s decision is not only a tangible expression of its asylum policy, but also a position grounded in the values of democracy and freedom.
He also said that the extradition treaty between Australia and Hong Kong is currently suspended, but even if the agreement is resumed in the future, since he has obtained official refugee status, the possibility of him being deported to Hong Kong on political grounds has now been eliminated.
In English, Hui also appealed to the Australian government, “not to forget those still suffering in Hong Kong prisons,” and mentioned Jimmy Lai, founder of Next Digital Group, and the individuals involved in the pro-democracy legislative primary case in Hong Kong.
Jimmy Lai was arrested by Hong Kong’s National Security Department in August 2020, and was formally charged in December that year, becoming the first person charged under the Hong Kong National Security Law for "colluding with foreign or external forces to endanger national security."
As for the primary election case, a total of 47 people were involved, of whom 45 have been convicted, and some have already served their sentences and been released.