Hong Kong democracy campaigner accuses UK police of asking her to ‘self-censor’ | Freedom of speech

A former Hong Kong politician and the leading democracy campaignist accused the British police of asking for “self -withdrawal” and “withdrawal from public life after asking the civil servants to accept to avoid public meetings.

The demand summarized in a signed “agreement zaptı by Guardian, concerned about the exiled opponents, who were afraid that they could strengthen their attempts to silence their criticisms of China and Hong Kong officials around the world.

Carmen Lau, who moved to England in 2021, was asked to sign the official agreement in March by the Thames Valley police after presenting letters to his neighbors’ movements or to the authorities to be taken to the authorities.

Thames Valley police asked Lau to ın Stop any activity that may take you to risk ”and ın avoid attending public meetings”, such as protests.

Lau is claimed by Hong Kong officials It is contrary to the national security law of the region, which provides comprehensive external forces to prosecute actions or comments anywhere in the world anywhere in the world. He is also working with the Hong Kong Democracy Council, a Washington -based organization dedicated to increasing international support for the progress of democracy and human rights.

Tony Chung, a democracy activist who was imprisoned under the National Security Law of Hong Kong but now living in England, was the subject of close letters to relatives who wanted British citizens to inform him.

Although Hong Kong officials refused to send letters, British external and home secretaries believe that these are an example of “transnational pressure ve and called on“ China and Hong Kong to end the intentional targeting of opposition voices ”. On Friday, David Lammy and Yette Cooper promised to protect the “rights and freedoms of the exile activists in the UK.

But days after the discovery of the letters, Lau believes in the detailed instructions of the Thames Valley police in March, just strengthening foreign initiatives to silence him.

The award letter in the understanding of understanding states that Lau was asked because of the political content of his speeches and social media tasks criticizing Hong Kong officials.

Lau regularly makes speeches criticizing the Chinese government’s targeting opponents, including demonstrations in London.

He said, “Essentially told me to censor themselves, ve and said that when the uniform officers came to his home, he felt that he had no choice but to accept the request, but he did not stop making a campaign.

“Instead of protecting my right to speak and freely speaking in the UK, it shifts responsibility for limiting my fundamental freedoms in the face of China’s transnational pressure, instead of protecting my right to speak freely,” Lau said.

“In fact, China and Hong Kong reflect the conclusion that the officials are looking for: silenceing the opposition through fear and isolation. A really democratic response should focus on protecting the rights of the targets, does not recommend that they withdraw from public life.”

Thames Valley Police said: iz We will never confirm or reject the details of the individuals we can protect or protect, or we will not approve or reject the tactics that we can use or not use because it will weaken such a protection. ”

Melbourne -based Kevin Yam, who is also the subject of almost the same award letters and is also sought for the criticism of Hong Kong officials, said that the demand was very different from the Australian police than the approach that “always treats me as a sacrifice” approach.

“I am horrified by the reactions of the United Kingdom officials to the letter against Carmen Lau and Tony Chung, I believe that the perpetrators encouraged the perpetrators in another country, that is to try to try it in Australia,” he said.

The award letters are investigated separately by the Metropolitan Police Anti -Terror Unit. In a statement, the force said that “it is alive for attempts to target or threaten individuals in the UK and that we continue to work very closely with our intelligence and security partners abroad and abroad”.

In Australia, the letters targeting YAM and another former Hong Kong politician Ted Hui are being investigated by the national counter -influence of the national internal intelligence agency and the police force.

Hui said that the agreement Zaptı was “deeply worried” and “Carmen’s pain and his responsibility is based only on self -censorship”.

On Saturday, Hong Kong’s National Security Police issued an arrest warrant for 19 activists dating back and accused them of violating the National Security Law. Activists are also subject to awards.

Lammy and Cooper’s criticism of warrants as “transnational pressure, were rejected by the Chinese Embassy in the UK, which states that the statements constitute a“ gross intervention in China’s internal affairs and constitutes the superiority of the law in Hong Kong.