Former Hong Kong legislator Ted Hui Chi-fung and his family have been granted refugee status in Australia under the 1951 Refugee Convention, allowing them to reside permanently in the country. On August 16, Hui shared the written notification from the Australian Department of Home Affairs on social media, confirming that he, his wife, children, and parents all received the same visa.
Hui noted that although the extradition agreement between Australia and Hong Kong is currently suspended, any future resumption would not affect his refugee status. He expressed mixed emotions upon receiving the news, emphasizing that “exile is not immigration” and that asylum simply means “the day of returning home remains distant.”
The Hong Kong government issued a statement condemning Australia’s decision, calling it a “flagrant disregard for the rule of law, extreme disrespect for Hong Kong’s legal system, and a gross interference in Hong Kong affairs.” The statement criticized fugitives who evade bail and continue to threaten national security as “shameful and cowardly,” warning that they cannot escape legal accountability.
Hui was among eight individuals wanted overseas by Hong Kong police’s national security unit in July 2023, accused of inciting secession, subversion, and collusion with foreign forces. In December 2023, Secretary for Security Ping-keung Tang designated Hui as a fugitive, imposing asset freezes and revoking his Hong Kong SAR passport.