HK extremists flee, disband groups after law passed
The deterrent effect of the National Security Law for Hong Kong has begun to show, as several secessionist leaders in Hong Kong have either left Hong Kong or disbanded their prosecession groups on Tuesday, hours after China’s top legislature voted to pass the law, analysts said.
Secessionist leaders including Joshua Wong, Nathan Law and Agnes Chow announced their withdrawal from pro-secession group Demosisto Tuesday morning on Twitter.
Shortly after their announcement, Demosisto, an organization founded in 2016 dedicated to secessionist work, said it would disband.
Basa Leung, a political analyst based in Hong Kong, calls Wong a “politikus” who eats human blood.
“He withdraws because he knows he will be punished by law. Forces like him started chaos in Hong Kong, and have played a destructive role for the future of Hong Kong. Their withdrawal is pure posslitical opportunism rather than their proclaimed ideals, such as democracy and freedom.”
“Wong incited many young people to breach laws who are now facing the legal consequences, and brought in foreign interference. But now he wants to escape, which is selfish and despicable,” Leung said, adding that the national security law comes just in time to deter secessionists and protect other residents.
Victor Chan Chi-ho, vice chairman of the Hong Kong Association of Young Commentators, said that the withdrawal of the three key figures from Demosisto means they want to avoid legal risks, which shows the deterrent effect of the law and the necessity for the central government to enact the law for Hong Kong.
Other secessionist groups including the Hong Kong National Front and Studentlocalism also announced Tuesday their disbandment.
The deterrent effect of the national security law came into play even before the passage of the law. On Friday, one of the “Gang of Four” in Hong Kong – Anson Chan, Hong Kong’s former chief secretary known for her secessionist stance – announced her retirement from political and civil engagements, which analysts believe the soon-to-be law has made forces like Chan realize their political opportunism has come to an end. Chan’s retirement has led to a domino effect.
Mark Simon, a right-hand man of Hong Kong secessionist Jimmy Lai Chee-ying is in Taiwan. Responding to questions whether he fled Hong Kong due to concerns that he could be arrested, he only claimed that he has business in Taiwan.