Maidenhead-based activist speaks out on Hong Kong police arrest warrant

An exiled pro-democracy activist living in Maidenhead says she fears for her safety after Hong Kong police issued a warrant and reward for her arrest.

Carmen Lau, who has lived in the town for two years, was one of six overseas activists targeted in the latest round of warrants issued as part of Hong Kong’s national security law – brought in to crack down on dissenting acts following mass pro-democracy protests in the region.

Ms Lau, a former Hong Kong district councillor who has been living in exile in the UK since arriving on a British national (overseas) visa in 2021, learnt of the warrant on Christmas Eve.

Hong Kong police have offered a reward of HK$1million (£104,000) for any information leading to the 29-year-old’s arrest.

The offences she is accused of include ‘incitement of secession’ and ‘collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security’.

Ms Lau has continued her advocacy work in the UK and works at the Hong Kong Democracy Council. She remains determined to continue this work despite the warrant.

“It has been quiet for some time on the crackdowns to overseas activists from the Hong Kong government,” she said.

“I was quite shocked, although I expected that would come to me.

“I was quite worried about my personal safety, even now I’m on British soil.”

She said she believed the warrants were intended to have a ‘chilling effect’ on the broader Hong Kong community in the UK.

News of the warrants led to condemnation from Foreign Secretary David Lammy, and Ms Lau’s case was raised in the House of Commons earlier this month.

However, the campaigner said she feels the UK Government has been ‘quite soft’ in criticising or taking concrete action on the issue – and has called for measures such as sanctions, a review of diplomatic privileges, and for the Government to reject plans for a Chinese embassy in Tower Hill.

“We agree that dialogue with other countries is important and is essential in the sense of diplomacy,” she said.

“At the same time, you have to stand strong to say no to some of the behaviours or efforts that is not acceptable.”

In Parliament on January 7, Liberal Democrat MP Calum Miller raised the issue with parliamentary under-secretary of state at the foreign affairs, commonwealth and development office, Catherine West.

Mr Miller called for her to meet with Ms Lau and assure her of the Government’s support.

Since then, Ms Lau has met with Maidenhead MP Josh Reynolds as well as both Ms West and Foreign Secretary David Lammy to discuss the situation.

Ms Lau added: “For now the Labour Government’s trying to restore its economic relationship and partnership [with the] Chinese Government, so frankly speaking, there is a lot of hurdles and obstacles that we’ve been facing.

“I am very concerned on my personal safety but I’m more concerned for the [Hong Kong] community’s safety as a whole."

In a tweet following their meeting last week, Ms West said: “The safety of the UK's Hong Kong community is a priority.

“Last week David Lammy and I made this clear when we met those recently targeted by the Hong Kong police with arrest warrants.

“Attempts by foreign governments to coerce, intimidate, or harm critics overseas are unacceptable.”

In a statement, Mr Lammy added: “This Government is deeply committed to supporting all members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK and made valuable contributions to life in the UK.

“Ensuring their continued safety remains a priority.

Mao Ning, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, said at a press conference in December: “We strongly deplore and firmly oppose individual countries blatantly attacking and vilifying the legitimate law enforcement activities of the Hong Kong police.”

She accused the targeted individuals of engaging in ‘destabilising activities seeking to disrupt and undermine Hong Kong’s development and social stability’.

She added: “These are just acts that uphold the rule of law and meet people’s aspirations.

“They are necessary acts to defend China’s sovereignty and security and legitimate acts to uphold long-term stability in Hong Kong.”

Ms Lau said that while she ‘may be afraid, I still persevere because if there is no one to continue to speak up for what we believe and the values that we cherish, then no one would – so we should speak up for ourselves’.