TOKYO (JAPAN) – Agnes Chow, the Hong Kong pro-democracy activist who was released on bail after being arrested under the new security law, thanked the Japanese for their support, urging them not to forget the city as China cracks the whip on dissenting voices.
Fluent in Japanese, Chow, 23, is hailed as the “goddess of democracy” by Japanese media. Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai was also arrested under the new law on Monday.
Chow’s arrest grabbed headlines in Japan as she often Tweets in Japanese and is active in Japanese media. The hashtag #FreeAgnes trended on Twitter.
“Thank you so much,” Chow said in a video after being released on bail on Tuesday.
“I hope the people of Japan will keep paying attention to Hong Kong,” she said in Japanese. Japan broadcaster NHK beamed segments of the video on Thursday.
The Japanese government, which wants to preserve its ties with China, said earlier this week that Tokyo was “deeply concerned” about the situation in Hong Kong.
Lawmakers from across parties condemned the arrests in Hong Kong and put pressure on the government to refuse any request for evidence based on the new security law and to ease visa curbs on Hong Kong residents.
Hong Kong authorities called the demand of the lawmakers inappropriate.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field