Hong Kong opposition activist, Agnes Chow Ting, has stated that she has no intention of returning to Hong Kong, despite being required to do so by the Hong Kong Police National Security Department (NSD) in December. The announcement was made via a post on her Instagram account.
In response to Chow’s decision, the NSD has criticised her plan to avoid bail, branding it as contrary to the principles of law. Chow was arrested in August 2020 under the Hong Kong National Security Law for alleged “collusion with external elements”.
While the investigation into these allegations continues, Chow has already been sentenced to a 10-month prison term based on her convictions for participating in an unauthorised assembly and inciting others to do the same during protests in June 2019. Following the completion of her sentence, the NSD released Chow on bail, but seized her travel document as per Article 43 of the National Security Law.
Earlier this year, Chow was accepted into a Canadian university, and thereafter in August, the NSD returned her travel documents, albeit with a condition. She was expected to visit a “Reform and Opening Up” exhibition, designed to educate attendees about China and the Chinese Communist Party, under the watch of five Hong Kong National Security officers. The NSD extended her bail till the end of this year.
Chow is a member of Demosistō, a political party in Hong Kong advocating democratic self-determination. Her attempt to run for political office in 2018 was initially denied, but the decision was later overturned by the court due to procedural unfairness.
For the full story, check out the original article at JURIST – News.