Chinese authorities intercept a boat carrying passengers seeking political asylum, leaving many with a sinking feeling

This appeared in The Millennial Source

While Hong Kong was once a refuge for Vietnamese and mainland Chinese seeking political asylum, some Hong Kongers are now fleeing their own city in a similar manner.

Last week, Chinese authorities arrested a group of at least 10 people, including a Hong Kong pro-democracy activist, on an intercepted boat believed to be en route to Taiwan, local reports say. The passengers aimed to seek political refuge amid the enactment of Beijing’s contentious national security law.

A social media post by the Guangdong Coast Guard on August 26 only partially recognized two of the passengers by their surnames, Li and Tank, but the South China Morning Post said unnamed sources in Hong Kong and mainland China have confirmed Andy Li was among those detained.

Li is the Chairman of the Independent Election Observation Mission to Hong Kong, as well as a volunteer member of “Fight for Freedom. Stand With Hong Kong,” an organization that raises international awareness for Hong Kong’s pro-democratic movement.

He was detained earlier this month with nine others on accusations under the newly enacted national security law of…