US Rejects Asylum for Four Hong Kong Democracy Activists

Hong Kong Student Activist Tony Cheng Arrested While Attempting Asylum in the US
Hong Kong Media: "Both the US and China Want a Careful and Quiet Handling"

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] The US government has reportedly rejected asylum requests from Hong Kong pro-democracy activists, according to the Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP) on the 28th.

SCMP reported that on the afternoon of the 27th, four Hong Kong activists visited the US Consulate in Hong Kong to apply for asylum but were denied.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

SCMP added that at least one of the four is facing prosecution related to last year's anti-government protests.

The US Consulate and the Hong Kong government have not officially confirmed this matter.

SCMP interpreted this as the US and China wanting to avoid escalation over the Hong Kong issue by handling it "cautiously and quietly." It further explained, "Although the US officially states it supports Hong Kong anti-government activists, internally it has set limits on how far it will go."

Rau Siu-kai, Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong-Macau Research Association, said, "China likely wanted to avoid a political storm, and from the US perspective, amid the ongoing US-China trade war, this could have escalated to the closure of the Hong Kong consulate."

Rau also said the US Consulate probably feared accepting lesser-known, unnamed activists could lead to a flood of asylum requests later.

Simon Young, a professor at the University of Hong Kong, explained, "It is very unusual for asylum or refugee protection requests to be accepted inside US consulate buildings outside US territory."

The US Consulate in Hong Kong states on its website that "US law only considers asylum for foreigners who have entered US soil."

Earlier on the same day as the four activists' asylum attempt, Hong Kong student activist Tony Cheng was arrested while trying to seek asylum in the US.

SCMP reported that Tony Cheng was arrested by the National Security Division, a police unit dedicated to cases related to the Hong Kong National Security Law (Hong Kong Security Law), at a coffee shop opposite the US Consulate, and that he planned to apply for asylum at the consulate.

Enacted on June 30, the Hong Kong Security Law allows for life imprisonment for four crimes: secession, subversion of state power, terrorist activities, and collusion with foreign forces. The organization "Student Mobilization," led by Tony Cheng, announced via Facebook that two others besides Tony Cheng were also arrested.