Leeds teenager woke up with a Chinese bounty on her head
13 days ago
- #Activism
- #Hong Kong
- #Bounty
- Chloe Cheung, a 19-year-old from Leeds, discovered on Christmas Eve 2024 that Chinese authorities had placed a HK$1m bounty on her head for allegedly threatening national security.
- Cheung, who moved to the UK in 2020, was working for a UK-based group advocating democracy in Hong Kong when the bounty was announced.
- Friends distanced themselves from Cheung on social media, fearing repercussions for their ability to return to Hong Kong.
- Cheung's activism began after witnessing police violence during Hong Kong's 2019-20 protests, which shattered her trust in the government.
- Despite the bounty, Cheung remains vocal about Hong Kong's democracy, refusing to be silenced by Chinese authorities.
- Cheung faces harassment and safety concerns in the UK, including being followed by suspicious individuals and online abuse.
- Her public stance has limited her career opportunities, especially with companies tied to China, but she views her sacrifices as minor compared to those imprisoned in Hong Kong.
- Hong Kong authorities labeled Cheung an 'absconder' and vowed to pursue her 'regardless of distance' for endangering national security.