Death threats and being tailed by mystery cars - Australian students are living in fear as pro-China activists target them for criticising Hong Kong clampdown
- Pro-Hong Kong democracy students living in Australia fear for the safety
- Students allege they've been followed and received death threats from Chinese
- Come in the wake of China's strict new security laws in their home country
Hong Kong nationals studying in Australia have grave concerns for their safety, claiming they've been intimidated, spied upon and received deaths threats from Chinese nationals.
Two students active in Perth's pro-Hong Kong democracy movement said they had been subject to intimidation for criticising China's strict new security laws in their homeland.
The new laws have banned all expression of political views, slogans and signs advocating Hong Kong's independence or liberation.
Hong Kong national 'Mary', 25, claimed she received death threats after her address and personal details were widely shared on Chinese social platform WeChat by those wanting to silence her.
She recalled being followed home by Chinese nationals after she attended an activist rally in Perth last year.
Pro-Hong Kong democracy activists living in Australia say they can't return home following the new security laws imposed by China. Pictured is a riot police officer searching a woman during a demonstration in a mall in Hong Kong
'The police … told them to leave and then they just waited in their car and followed us to my apartment building,' Mary told the ABC.
'Later that day when I went downstairs to pick up my delivery, I saw that car still there. It's just not safe for us to even be in such a free country.'
Fellow Pro-Hong Kong democracy activist 'John', 24, also claimed he has been followed, had his personal details widely shared and photographed by Chinese nationals in Perth.
'After the protest I ran back to my accommodation and when I was doing exercise in the gym room… some Chinese were taking photos of me,' he recalled.
Despite the harassment, the students intend to stay in Australia for the time being.
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One student believes she would be arrested if she returned to Hong Kong. Pictured is a Hong Kong mall being heavily patrolled by riot police this week
John returned to Hong Kong for several months last year when he took part in protests where he said he was sprayed with tear gas and pepper bullets.
He supports the idea of special visa for pro-Hong Kong democracy protesters so they can remain in Australia and would prefer to live here than his homeland.
Mary believes she would be arrested if she returned to Hong Kong and has closed any bank accounts linked to her parents who still live there.
She has spent the past six months considering seeking asylum in Australia but remains torn about whether to cut her ties to her home country.
'Once we accept that [asylum] offer we can't go home forever and that is my main concern, even though I know returning home is very risky at the moment I still don't want to know that I actually can't go home forever,' Mary said.
New laws have banned all expression of political views, slogans and signs advocating Hong Kong's independence or liberation.
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