Exiled activist vowed to remain outspoken despite being “wanted” by the Hong Kong government

On Friday, six Hong Kong activists in exile learned from media reports that they were “wanted’ by the Hong Kong police for violating the national security law. Ray Wong, who was the first Hong Kong asylum seeker in Germany, said he thinks the Hong Kong government’s goal is to silence all overseas Hong Kongers rather than arresting the six of them, and he vowed to continue his activism.

Question: What went through your mind when you learned that you were on Hong Kong police’s wanted list for violating the national security law?

Ray Wong: I have been a fugitive since November, 2017 when I fled to Germany to seek asylum. When I disclosed my status in May 2019, the Hong Kong government and Hong Kong police force said they would chase after me and threaten to keep in touch with Interpol to arrest me. Until now, I haven’t seen my name on Interpol’s list, which makes me think arresting us is not the main purpose of putting the six of us on the list for violating the national security law.

I think why they make this move on Friday is to deter overseas Hong Kongers from connecting with politicians in foreign countries as well as stopping us from lobbying. After the imposition of the national security law, I have already heard from a lot of overseas Hong Kongers that they worried they would be arrested once they enter Hong Kong due to their behaviors abroad.

To me, I’m not afraid of this law and the fact that the Hong Kong government has put me onto the list of wanted individuals. The German government has already granted me the asylum status, and I’m sure the German government will continue to protect me. The German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas announced that the German government would suspend the extradition treaty with Hong Kong. It shows that the Hong Kong government has no reason to ask the German government to extradite me back to Hong Kong.

DW: You left Hong Kong a lot earlier than other exiled Hong Kongers, so how would you describe life as a Hong Konger in exile in a foreign country?

Ray Wong: As a Hong Konger living in Germany, it’s pretty hard. I have to learn the language in order to integrate into the society and to be able to live in Germany. Secondly, after the beginning of the anti-extradition bill movement last year, I have been struggling between my two identities: one as a Hong Kong activist and the other one as a Hong Kong refugee living in Germany.

As a Hong Konger, I can’t help but to read news about Hong Kong and stay in touch with my friends and family in Hong Kong. I also have to try my best to do something for Hong Kong. On the other hand, as a refugee in Germany, I should build my life here and try to integrate into the society. I need to work and study here. I think it’s very difficult to find a balance between these two identities.

Even though the situation is getting better for me, I think it takes time, especially when so many things are happening in Hong Kong.

Question: How do you view the European Union’s response to what China has been doing in Hong Kong so far?

Ray Wong: On the one hand, I’m disappointed in the lack of concrete responses from both Germany and the European Union. The reason why I decided to flee to Germany was because I thought Germany would prioritize human rights, democracy and freedom over economic interests due to their own history.

However, in the past few months, especially after the coronavirus outbreak, I think Germany has been very reserved when it comes to issues related to Hong Kong and China. Many critics think that due to the economic interests, the German government has taken a rather softer stance towards China.

On the other hand, I sort of understand that the European Union and Germany both are economically dependent on China, and even if they have become aware about China’s human rights violations, it will still take some time for them to change their policies towards China. We can’t expect Germany and the European Union to change their stance on issues related to China in just a few months.

We can see that changes are happening. The German government has suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong and the European Union has issued more statements condemning China’s treatment of Hong Kong. They have also started discussions about potential sanctions against China.

Even though Germany and the European Union have been reserved on issues related to Hong Kong, I can foresee that they will eventually go back to the side of the free world to face challenges imposed by China.

Question: In the tweet that you sent out yesterday, you talked about how you haven’t said anything related to Hong Kong independence to politicians since the national security law came into effect, which makes you believe that the charges against you are based on your activities before the national security law came into effect. You suggested that this contradicted Hong Kong government’s claim that they won’t use the law retrospectively. How would you explain the power of the law to the international community?

Ray Wong: It’s very clear that the Chinese Communist Party or the Hong Kong government will use the national security law to suppress or prosecute all the dissidents, regardless of where they are. Even when the Hong Kong government said they wouldn’t use the law retrospectively, they now prove it is wrong in my case.

They also said that the law would only be used against dissidents that they described as “terrorists” and they won’t use this law to target foreigners. However, when they see you a threat, they would use this law to arrest you or freeze your assets. I think everyone in Hong Kong, no matter if they are Hong Kongers or foreigners, they are facing the same threat.

Question: What are your plans for the future? Will you continue your activism in Germany?

Ray Wong: To avoid being threatened or To avoid being threatened or targeted by Beijing will never be my options. I will still continue my cause and I will still be outspoken no matter what charges they will use against me.

I’m studying in Germany and at the same time, I’m working at a human rights NGO called Society for Threatened Peoples as a part-time researcher. I think my task will be expanded to topics beyond just Hong Kong. It will include anyone who has been suppressed in China. This will be my work in the future.

A couple of exiled Hong Kong activists, including myself, have founded an information-sharing platform called Haven Assistance. We hope to share our experience of seeking asylums in different countries in order to help Hong Kongers fleeing the city. That will be my main task for the upcoming few months, and I hope to build more connections between Hong Konger groups in different countries.

I think it’s foreseeable that most Hong Kongers will move to other countries and it will be important to find ways to keep the momentum going. How to unite overseas Hong Kongers will be crucial for the development of the overseas community for Hong Kongers.

The overseas alliance will be one of the life lines for Hong Kong’s long-term survival. I think for many Hong Kong people, after they move to a new country, they should learn the culture and language of that country in order to integrate into the society. That will also allow us to gain more political power domestically.

Take Canada as an example. They now have more than 500,000 Hong Kongers and political parties need to listen to Hong Kong people. Every Hong Kong person has the power to influence the politics in that country. That may turn the foreign policy of that country in favor of Hong Kongers or at least to take a stronger stance towards China.

This interview was first published in English on DW’s Mandarin website.