Post-Release Supervision
A former protester, To Kai-wa, who was jailed for five and a half years in 2021 for biting a police officer’s finger during a 2019 protest, has withdrawn his legal challenge against a travel ban that prevented him from studying abroad. To, who was released in October, told local media that he had dropped his judicial review against the Correctional Services Department’s (CSD) decision to reject his April request to study law at the University of Birmingham. When asked why, he stated, “There are many things I cannot answer.”
This case underscores the growing caution displayed by Hong Kong authorities in allowing released prisoners to travel abroad, following incidents where prominent activists failed to return. The CSD’s Supervision Case Review Committee claimed To had not shown “sincere remorse” or completed “rehabilitation and de-radicalisation.” They also raised concerns about his British National (Overseas) passport, warning he could abscond from supervision.
The CSD also warned To that if he violated his supervision order, British authorities would not cooperate with extradition. This refusal references a recent case involving pro-independence activist Tony Chung, who fled to the UK in December 2023 after being allowed to travel to Japan. Chung was placed on a wanted list in December 2024 for alleged incitement to secession and foreign collusion, with a HK$1 million bounty on his head.
Another example is former student leader Agnes Chow, who jumped bail in 2023. After being released from prison in June 2021 for protest-related offences, she was still subject to bail conditions due to her involvement in a 2020 national security case involving pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai. Police approved her travel to Canada to study on the condition that she first visit Shenzhen with them and write letters praising the “great development of the motherland.” She left in September 2023 but refused to return in December as agreed. Police condemned her move as “challenging the rule of law” and said she would carry the “fugitive” label for life if she stayed away. An official arrest warrant for Chow was issued in February last year.
Uncontested Elections
Hong Kong’s powerful Election Committee, which selects the city’s leader, is set to fill 93 vacancies in by-elections next month, costing an estimated HK$233 million. The government reported receiving 101 nominations from 28 sectors, but local media found that 72 seats in 22 sectors – nearly 80% of the total – would go uncontested. These candidates will be automatically elected once they pass national security checks.
Pro-establishment commentator Lau Siu-kai told Ming Pao that the short term for the seats – serving only until October 2026 – means few people are interested. He described it as an “elite-type election,” where potential rivals avoid direct confrontation to prevent friction and maintain unity within the pro-Beijing camp.
Winners next month will have a say in the Legislative Council elections in December, a new power granted to the committee after a 2021 electoral overhaul. The revamp expanded the committee from 1,200 to 1,500 members, ensuring only “patriots” run Hong Kong. Political circles are now speculating which of the 90 sitting lawmakers will retain their seats. Some suggest top government officials may have a say, an unusual twist if true, while pro-Beijing outlets quote unnamed heavyweights claiming Beijing still wants legislators who are “vocal.”
State Media Monitor
A new digital platform, Pulse HK, formed from the merger of two Hong Kong diaspora media groups, has become the latest target of Beijing-backed newspaper Ta Kung Pao. In a recent op-ed, Ta Kung Pao labeled Pulse HK as an “anti-China” platform aiming to spread ideological propaganda against mainland China and Hong Kong.
Pulse HK emerged from the merger of The Chaser and Photon Media, both founded overseas after the 2021 national security crackdown that shuttered pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily and independent outlet Stand News. The Chaser was started by ex-Apple Daily reporter Shirley Leung in Taiwan in 2023, while Photon Media, launched in the UK in 2022, is run by veteran Hong Kong journalists.
Last week, Pulse HK announced a crowdfunding campaign aiming to raise HK$4 million to build a 16- to 18-person team across Taiwan, the UK, and North America, targeting 4,000 subscribers in its first year. Ta Kung Pao questioned the merger’s timing, claiming Pulse HK is trying to “integrate public opinion forces” for an “upcoming confrontation.” The op-ed accused the outlet of planning to publish biased reporting, doctored images, and smear campaigns to undermine Hong Kong’s progress.
At a press conference last week, Wu said the journalists, despite being away for years, remain deeply connected to Hong Kong. Co-founder Edward Li, formerly with Apple Daily, called for diaspora media to unite and pool their strengths. Leung added, “In these dark times, with press freedom collapsing, we want to be a ray of light.”
Social Media Monitor
Legislator Stanley Ng, chairperson of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, faced backlash after a fiery Facebook post. His comments on the Hong Kong government’s proposal to register same-sex partnerships sparked rare pushback from the city’s “all-patriots” legislature since the bill was tabled last month.
Tensions between the executive and legislative branches escalated when Ng publicly criticized Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang, the bill’s lead advocate. In a Facebook post, Ng claimed Tsang “almost begged” and “threatened” him to ensure “safe passage” of “his bill.” However, around two hours later, Ng edited the post, removing Tsang’s name. He still alleged facing “threats” but left the source vague.
The following afternoon, Ng apologized to Tsang on Facebook, admitting his earlier remarks “went too far” and expressing respect for Tsang’s “dedication and sense of responsibility.”
HKFP Photo of the Week
Hong Kong experienced record rainfall, leading to the black rainstorm warning being raised for the fourth time in a week – a first in the city’s history. Torrential downpours triggered flash floods and landslides, causing part of Bride’s Pool Road in Tai Po to collapse.
Authorities received over 480 calls for help, with a quarter related to flooding, while more than 30 trees were brought down. Former Hong Kong Observatory official Leung Wing-mo warned the city can expect more extreme weather due to the impact of climate change.