Pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong are discussing the conception of a potential ‘shadow parliament’ that could preserve democracy and send a strong message to mainland China in opposition to their new security law. This comes as a result of the new sweeping security legislation that was introduced by China to stifle dissent.
On Wednesday this week, protesters were attacked by the police with tear gas as well as spray hoses, and over 300 people were arrested under this new law.
Coming in opposition to this, Cheng, an activist who had been tortured by China’s secret police, and has now been granted asylum in the UK, suggested that a ‘parliament in exile’ would be the perfect message that could be sent to mainland China in opposition of this new law. Speaking to the media on Friday he said, “A shadow parliament can send a very clear signal to Beijing and the Hong Kong authorities that democracy need not be at the mercy of Beijing. We want to set up non-official civic groups that surely reflect the views of the Hong Kong people.”
He has been granted asylum in Britain following an offer by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson Which provided a path to hundreds of thousands of Hong Kong citizens or British citizenship. This was met with backlash from China side, as it strongly proclaimed that this was an internal affair and that the UK had no right to set foot into this.