In the first year under the national security law imposed in June 2020, 117 were arrested and more than 60 politicians, activists, journalists, and students were charged under the law, according to AP.
“Many of the young activists have been leaving in recent months,” Cheng said.
“Almost two-thirds of the most active participants in the pro-democracy movement are either being detained or they are being prosecuted and therefore they cannot leave or they have gone,” he said.
It is estimated that up to a million people may leave Hong Kong, which has a population of 7.5 million, in the next few years.
Cheng is one of many from Hong Kong who has already opted to leave in response to the threat posed by the national security law. He left with his family for Australia in July 2020 and has since settled in Auckland, New Zealand.
Others from Hong Kong have gone to the United Kingdom or Taiwan, which have both offered special visas in light of the situation.
“I never expected to leave Hong Kong,” said Cheng, a 71-year-old retired political science professor.
“I was quite prepared to retire in Hong Kong … but I was severely attacked by the pro-Beijing mass media … and I was very worried that I may be arrested and prosecuted.”
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