On July 13, a 20-year-old student wanted for rioting was arrested by the Hong Kong Police Force upon his return to Hong Kong. The police shot the arrested student with a live round two years ago. That was also the first live round fired in the 2019 Hong Kong Protests.
The victim was shot in the chest but charged with “assaulting police.”
Tsang Chi-kit, a 20-year-old student, also known as “Little Kit” by Hongkongers, who recently returned to Hong Kong, was the arrested student.
On the early morning of Oct 1, 2019, a traffic police officer shot Tsang with a live round in the chest in Tsuen Wan. Tsang was wearing black clothing that morning. The police officer pulled out his gun and pointed it at Tsang’s chest before he pulled the trigger. Tsang fell to the ground with severe bleeding and was hospitalized.
The authorities charged Tsang with one count of rioting and two counts of assaulting police officers.
Like other Hong Kong protesters, feeling concerned for his safety and future, Tsang fled Hong Kong for almost two years. The court issued a warrant for Tsang’s arrest as he did not appear in court since December 2019.
Police got a tip that Tsang was returning to Hong Kong. They arrested Tsang upon his return to Sai Kung.
Councilor: If you Flee, ‘Do Not Return to Hong Kong’
Former Kwai Tsing District Councilor, Daniel Kwok Tsz-kin, resides in the UK and understands young protesters like Tsang. He warns Hongkongers who fled: Do not return to Hong Kong.Seeking UK Asylum is Difficult
Kwok said many protesters settled in the UK because of the lifeboat scheme for BNO passport holders.He said, “Some people find the UK easier to adapt to because of familiarity, as there are many Hongkongers around.”
According to data from the UK Home Office, by the end of 2021, 184 people from Hong Kong had sought political asylum in the UK.
No Choice But to Go Back
Kwok described the process of seeking asylum in the UK as tricky. “Right now, about 140 people are waiting for approval or appeal. About 50 of them have dropped out of their applications. Some changed their destinations to other countries.”Trouble Awaits Returning Protesters
During the 2019 Hong Kong Protests, Hong Kong Police Force collected citizens’ data. Personal information such as names, identity card numbers, and addresses. Kwok said that the list of data is most likely well-kept by the authorities.National Security Bureau is ‘The Big Brother’
When asked how long the list could be, Kwok said that Hong Kong has already become a vast prison. “You don’t have to ask or think twice. The National Security Police has already put every Hongkonger under their surveillance.”Kwok described Hong Kong as “a city which is no longer any different from China.”
