Nathan Law: Leading young democracy activist flees Hong Kong

One of Hong Kong's most prominent young democracy activists has fled the territory after China imposed a sweeping, controversial security law.

Nathan Law, a one-time student leader and local legislator who spent time in prison after 2014's "Umbrella Protests", said he would continue his advocacy work from abroad.

"I think the movement is still pretty much alive," he told the BBC.

Despite the high personal risk, he said "Hong Kong people will not give up".

While activists say the new law erodes freedoms, Beijing has dismissed the criticism.

Hong Kong's sovereignty was handed back to China by Britain in 1997 and certain rights were supposed to be guaranteed for at least 50 years under the "one country, two systems" agreement.

But opponents of the new law, which targets secession, subversion and terrorism with punishments of up to life in prison, say it effectively ends freedom of speech.

Within moments of it being announced on Tuesday, Mr Law said he was stepping down from Demosisto Party, which he co-founded with well-known activist Joshua Wong. At the time, he said the law marked the start of a "bloody cultural revolution".

On Wednesday, Mr Law spoke via videolink to a US Congressional hearing on Hong Kong. He told American politicians he was worried about returning to the territory, for fear of being imprisoned by Beijing.

"Merely speaking about the plight of HongKongers on an occasion like this, contradicts the new national security law," he told the hearing.

"So much is now lost in the city I love: the freedom to tell the truth."

Describing the new extensive powers that China will be able to use in the territory, he warned that "we used to think of secret police as something abstract, now it is a very real fear".

Then, on Thursday, he released a statement to the media saying he had already left Hong Kong but would "continue the advocacy work on the international level".

He did not say where he had gone, adding: "Based on risk assessment, I shall not reveal too much about my personal whereabouts and situation now."

Mr Law was, in 2016, the region's youngest legislator. At the time, he argued that the former British colony must be allowed a referendum on its future. He has said he does not want Hong Kong to become "just another Chinese city".

He was later disqualified after he was found to have improperly taken his swearing-in oath.

The law - which China has said is necessary to stop the type of pro-democracy protests seen in Hong Kong during much of 2019 - is wide-ranging, making inciting hatred of China's central government and Hong Kong's regional government offences.

It also allows for closed-door trials, wire-tapping of suspects and the potential for suspects to be tried on the Chinese mainland.

Acts including damaging public transport facilities - which often happened during the 2019 protests - can be considered terrorism.

There are also concerns over online freedom as internet providers might have to hand over data if requested by police.

And since it was introduced on Tuesday, the local government has announced that the slogan "Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of our Times" is illegal. Mr Law used the phrase during the Congressional hearing on Wednesday.

Ten people have already been arrested under the law during protests which took place on 1 July.

Many countries have been critical.

US lawmakers have unanimously approved new Hong Kong-related sanctions, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi saying the law amounted to a "brutal, sweeping crackdown against the people of Hong Kong, intended to destroy the freedoms they were promised".

The Hong Kong Autonomy Act, which has been sent to US President Donald Trump to sign, imposes sanctions on banks that do business with Chinese officials who are involved in cracking down on pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the passing of the law was a "clear and serious breach" of the 1985 Sino-British joint declaration.

The UK has offered residency, and possible citizenship, to up to three million Hong Kongers in the wake of the law's implementation.

Numerous others have also expressed strong concerns. Australia revealed that, like the UK, it was considering offering safe haven to Hong Kongers.

China has responded by saying Hong Kong's affairs are "none of your business".

However, Cuba - on behalf of 53 countries - welcomed the law.

Speaking at the 44th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, it said: "Non-interference in internal affairs of sovereign states is an essential principle enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations."