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Hong Kong national security law: opposition groups moving funds overseas, digitising historical records ahead of impending legislation
- Political party Demosisto, which lobbied Washington for sanctions against Beijing, establishing backup fund in the United States
- Alliance that supports June 4 movement on mainland China refuses to change manifesto calling for national democracy
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Hong Kong opposition groups are moving funds overseas and digitising historical records of mainland China’s 1989 pro-democracy movement in preparation for the national security law that Beijing is about to impose on the city.
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But even as they make contingency plans, the groups have ruled out changing their manifestos, with one saying it will continue to call for an end to one-party rule in mainland China.
Demosisto, a political party co-founded by former Occupy Central student leader Joshua Wong Chi-fung in 2016, said it was setting up a backup fund in the United States.
Authorities could use the new law against activists working on the “international front” of last year’s anti-government protests, which were sparked by opposition to a now-withdrawn extradition bill, said party chairman Ivan Lam Long-yin.
“It is hard to imagine how far the retaliation might go, but it is obvious that those who lobbied for the passage of the US’ Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act will be targeted,” the 25-year-old said.
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