Agnes Chow, leader of the protests in Hong Kong. Image: REUTERS
Agnes Chow, leader of the protests in Hong Kong, jump bail.
Democracy advocate Agnes Chow of Hong Kong has announced that she is “jumping bail” and will not be returning from her studies in Canada.
For her role in the 2019 antigovernmental protests, Ms. Chow was incarcerated in 2020 and freed in 2021.
The charges of “collusion with foreign forces to endanger national security” against her remain open.
Hong Kong police “strongly condemns” the behavior of the 27-year-old, according to local media.
It also warned her against “taking the road of no return by remaining a fugitive for the rest of her life,” according to a report from Hong Kong broadcaster TVB which was released on Monday.
On Sunday, in celebration of her 27th birthday, Ms. Chow announced in two Instagram photos that she had been accepted to a university in Toronto early this year.
Midway through September, she departed for Toronto.
However, returning her passport required an August excursion to mainland China accompanied by five police officials, a journey she was not allowed to decline.
“I felt as though I was under surveillance the whole time,” according to her.
She recounted being taken to the headquarters of the software company Tencent to pose for pictures and an exhibition showcasing China’s progress since the late 1970s, when the nation began its reform and opening up.
“If I stay silent, those pictures might one day become evidence of my “patriotism” – that fear is so tangible,” she wrote.
The authorities arranged the trip so that Ms. Chow might learn about “the motherland’s marvelous developments,” and upon her return to Hong Kong, she was also instructed to sign letters expressing regret for her previous political acts.
Ms. Chow is still being investigated in relation to the trial of pro-democracy media magnate Jimmy Lai, who is accused of “collusion with foreign forces” to jeopardize China’s national security.
She is due to return to the police station later this month. She is still free of charges.
She explained that she gave careful thought to “Hong Kong’s situation, my personal safety, my physical and mental health” before making her decision.
“Maybe I won’t return to Hong Kong for the rest of my life,” said Ms Chow.
In honor of the famous Chinese heroine Mulan, who battled to protect her family and nation, Ms. Chow was dubbed “the real Mulan” because of her major role in the city’s pro-democracy campaign.
The BBC 100 Women list, which celebrates the lives of 100 strong women from across the globe and features their stories annually, included her in 2020.