<
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/31/hong-kong-democracy-campaigner-accuses-uk-police-of-asking-her-self-censor>
"A former Hong Kong politician and prominent democracy campaigner has accused
British police of asking her to “self-censor” and “retreat from public life”
after officers asked her to agree to avoid public gatherings.
The request, outlined in a signed “memorandum of understanding” seen by the
Guardian, has alarmed exiled dissidents who fear it may embolden attempts to
silence criticism of Chinese and Hong Kong officials worldwide.
Carmen Lau, who moved to the UK in 2021, was asked to sign the formal agreement
in March by Thames Valley police after her neighbours were posted letters
offering a £100,000 bounty for information on her movements or for her being
taken to authorities.
Thames Valley police requested Lau “cease any activity that is likely to put
you at risk” and “avoid attending public gatherings” such as protests.
Lau is wanted by Hong Kong authorities for allegedly contravening the
territory’s national security law, which grants sweeping extraterritorial
powers to prosecute acts or comments made anywhere in the world that it deems
criminal. She also works with the Hong Kong Democracy Council, a
Washington-based organisation dedicated to “raising international support for
the advancement of its democracy and human rights”.
Tony Chung, a democracy activist who was jailed under Hong Kong’s national
security law but now lives in the UK, was also the subject of near-identical
letters requesting British citizens inform on him.
While Hong Kong authorities have denied sending the letters, the UK foreign and
home secretaries believe they are an example of “transnational repression” and
have called on “Chinese and Hong Kong authorities to end the deliberate
targeting of opposition voices”. On Friday, David Lammy and Yvette Cooper vowed
to protect the “rights and freedoms” of exiled activists in the UK.
But Lau believes detailed instructions from Thames Valley police in March, days
after the letters were discovered, only amplified foreign attempts to silence
her."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
