In Hong Kong, where dissent is now characterised by silence, few dare openly criticise the government or the Chinese Communist party (CCP) that controls it. Chow says this has long been a problem in Hong Kong, but has been made worse by the region’s new national security regime. Less than a fortnight after the blaze, Hong Kong held “patriots only” legislative council elections, with only candidates vetted by the government allowed to stand. “Even if we left Hong Kong, the fear would linger,” he says, referring to Beijing’s increasing practices of targeting critics overseas. Instead, he says, “I want to stay in Hong Kong and get used to living with fear.”Additional research by Ching Wong

Source: The Guardian December 29, 2025 19:31 UTC