World News
Pro-Democracy Activist Carmen Lau Accuses UK Police of Pressuring ‘Self-Censorship’
In late July 2025, Carmen Lau, a former district councilor from Hong Kong now living in exile in the UK, claimed that while participating in pro-Hong Kong demonstrations in London, she was repeatedly approached by UK police and subtly advised to avoid using “sensitive language” during public speeches.
Lau said police never explicitly silenced her but spoke in a suggestive manner that made her feel “informally pressured,” raising concerns about whether this amounted to veiled demands for self-censorship. She criticized this form of law enforcement as vague and potentially chilling for exiled dissidents.
While the UK Metropolitan Police declined to comment on individual cases, they reiterated that all actions were lawful and emphasized the need to balance public safety with freedom of expression. Several human rights groups stressed that although there may be no direct legal violations, such incidents warrant scrutiny, especially for political asylum seekers who should be afforded a clear and predictable environment for free expression.