Tony Chung Hon Lam, the last convener of Hong Kong pro-independence group Studentlocalism, said on his social media on Thursday that he had applied for political asylum in the UK. The Hong Kong Correctional Services Department (CSD) held a press conference on Friday, calling upon Chung to obey the supervision order and return to Hong Kong voluntarily.
The supervision order required Chung to attend school or work within one year following his release. Chung accused the CSD of limiting his freedom of occupation by forbidding him from working in “certain shops” without an express provision under the supervision order. In response, the CSD claimed that the imposed limitation prevented Chung from committing another offense endangering national security.
Chung also revealed that he was required to consent to an amended supervision order after his release. The amended order prohibits him from: (1) disseminating any publications regarding his convictions, (2) disseminating any publications that endanger national security and (3) speaking on public occasions. The CSD claimed that this amended order is tailored for Chung’s rehabilitation need to prevent him from committing another offense under national security law. The CSD further contended that the amended order does not amount to any violations of freedom of speech.
Moreover, Chung alleged that after his release, national security officers approached him every two to four weeks in random locations and drove him to unknown places. The national security officers would question his whereabouts and require him to provide particulars of all the people he met. Chung also said that he could not reveal any details and therefore seek legal assistance because the national security officers required him to sign a confidentiality agreement relating to his case under section 63 of the National Security Law.
In November 2021, a Hong Kong court convicted Chung of secession under national security law and dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offense. Pursuant to Rehabilitations Centres Ordinance (RCO), the court makes detention orders against convicted criminals between 14 and 21 years old. Under orders like this, a convicted criminal, who otherwise serves their sentence in jail, is kept in a rehabilitation center instead. In addition, prisoners serving sentences in a rehabilitation center are required to obey a supervision order under the RCO and Criminal Procedure Ordinance after their release from the rehabilitation center. Chung enjoys freedom of movement under the supervision order but is required to report his itinerary to the CSD.
This is the second time in December the Hong Kong government called upon exiled opposition activists to return to Hong Kong. On December 4, another opposition activist Agnes Chow Ting revealed her plan to skip bail and stay in Canada for further studies. Both similarly suggested that they were offered to visit China under the supervision of national security officers. However, Chung had not yet attended this visit before his departure.
