The exiled former Hong Kong lawmaker and pro-democracy activist Ted Hui, now working as a solicitor in Adelaide, says he and his family have been granted protection visas.
Hui, who is still wanted by Hong Kong authorities, said in a Facebook post, “I express my sincere gratitude to the Government of Australia – both present and former – for recognising our need for asylum and granting us this protection” (The Guardian).
The former Democratic Party MP left Hong Kong at the end of 2020 after facing criminal charges over the 2019 pro-democracy protests against a new extradition law, which could send anyone to the mainland for offending the Chinese Communist Party (The Age).
In 2023, Hong Kong accused Hui and seven others of national security offences, including incitement to secession, and put bounties of HK$1m ($196,000) on them (Reuters).
In a statement, the Hong Kong government said it was “against the harbouring of criminals in any form by any country” (CNA).