Sixtus Leung says he fled because of being followed

Ousted lawmaker Sixtus Baggio Leung Chung-hang said he fled Hong Kong because he feels unsafe after being followed in the SAR.

The pro-democracy activist, who is now seeking political asylum in the United States, told an online press conference that he felt someone had tailed him in Hong Kong since his release from jail in September. 

“I [can see] police in plainclothes waiting outside Lai Chi Kok [Reception Centre] even on the day I was released,” he said. 

“And on and off, they tried to tail me at places next to where I live, so that’s one of the reasons that make me feel unsafe in Hong Kong and a reason why I left Hong Kong.”

Leung, 34, added he believes his phone was hacked after seeing unusual cellular data usage on his phone.

On Friday, Haven Assistance – a group found by activists in exile including Ray Wong Toi-yeung and Simon Cheng Man-kit – broke the news that Leung had departed for the US as he faced “profound political persecution” in Hong Kong.

Shortly after, Leung confirmed that he had left the city on November 30 and sever all ties with his family in Hong Kong.

The former Youngspiration member said he is currently living with Hongkongers in Washington DC, and that he plans to lobby the US government to grant greater access for local activists to flee and stay in the country with a small team. 

"I would like to seek for some help, especially from the US side, to the youngsters that was born after 1997 who do not have a BN(O) passport. And if US can offer a lifeboat program, that would definitely give another choice to the youngsters right now in Hong Kong."

He also hoped to push for a new direction over how US authorities would impose sanctions to “strop their repression of Hong Kong.”

But Leung conceded that he also isn’t sure if he stands a high chance of being granted such status as there had not been many cases like his before. 

The ex-legislator was disqualified from Legco following the oath-taking saga in 2016. 

Leung, 34, served four weeks in prison in September after being convicted of taking part in an unlawful assembly while trying to push his way into a Legco meeting. 

He also faces bankruptcy proceedings after Legco demanded that he return almost one million dollars in salary and other funding he received prior to his disqualification.