Hong Kong Activist Agnes Chow Chooses Exile in Canada Amid Intensifying Crackdown

Facing numerous criminal proceedings in Hong Kong, Chow has decided not to return from Canada, citing the worsening political climate and Beijing's tightening grip on the city.

Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has personally devoted his attention to an ongoing investigation into pro-democracy activist Agnes Chow, stating that 'unless she surrenders, she will be hunted for life'.
Chow, who is facing numerous criminal proceedings in Hong Kong, has been studying in Toronto since September 2023 and recently announced on Instagram that she would not be returning to Hong Kong to face the criminal proceedings.
Chow became politically active at 17 during the Umbrella Revolution in 2014, protesting against Beijing's decision to allow only candidates vetted by the Chinese government to participate in the city's elections.
In 2020, Chow was jailed for seven months on convictions related to the 2019 protests that swept Hong Kong, and then arrested again in 2020 on accusations of 'colluding with foreign forces' under the controversial national security law.
Chow's decision to stay in Canada was influenced by the worsening political situation in Hong Kong, with authorities overhauling the electoral system to ensure only approved 'patriots' can run, issuing international arrest warrants for opposition figures, and airing mainland China-style televised confessions.