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Hong Kong national security law
This Week in AsiaPolitics

As #FreeAgnes trends in Japan, why is Hong Kong activist Agnes Chow so popular there?

  • Chow, dubbed the ‘goddess of democracy’ by Japanese media, is fluent in the language and has drawn a fervent following for her advocacy
  • Politicians and the public have expressed firm support for the 23-year-old after her arrest under the national security law made front-page news in Japan

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Agnes Chow is seen as “something of the face of the campaign for democracy in Hong Kong”, according to a Japan-based expert. Photo: Bloomberg
Julian Ryall
In Japan, politicians and the public have shown their staunch support for Hong Kong opposition activist Agnes Chow, with #FreeAgnes trending on social media and a cross-party group of Diet members condemning her arrest under the city’s national security law.
After an emergency meeting on Wednesday to discuss the arrests of Chow and Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, the founder of local newspaper Apple Daily, the Japan Parliamentary Alliance on China issued a statement condemning Beijing and the city’s government for “attempting to suppress pro-democracy movements by pressuring citizens of Hong Kong and media organisations”.

The alliance also urged Tokyo to announce the denial of any requests for evidence from Beijing or Hong Kong made under the national security law, and to implement “lifeboat policies” such as extended visa exemptions for Hongkongers and companies from the city looking to relocate to Japan.

Late on Wednesday, the Hong Kong government said the alliance had “incorrectly and inappropriately commented on various issues” with a spokesman reiterating that the “vast majority of Hong Kong residents who are law-abiding, including overseas investors” would not be affected by the national security law.

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Why is Hong Kong activist Agnes Chow so popular in Japan?

Why is Hong Kong activist Agnes Chow so popular in Japan?

While international media has focused on the detention of Lai, Chow’s Monday arrest was front-page news in Japan, while coverage of her release on bail the following day continued to be prominent on Wednesday. Lai posted bail shortly after midnight on Tuesday.

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