Exiled Hong Kong activist target of sexually explicit harassment campaign

A high-profile Hong Kong pro-democracy activist living in the United Kingdom has been the object of a series of intimidation campaigns involving letters containing false, sexually explicit photos of her moving from China to her neighbors. Carmen Lau, 30, who immigrated to Hong Kong four years ago, told the BBC she was shocked when the letters were sent to Maidenhead's addresses, including her name and pictures that made her appear she was naked or in underwear and offering sexual assistance.

The letters contAIned a few bad pictures, whether AI-generated or photo-shopped, in which they portrayed me as a sex worker,

she sAId. The Guardian first announced the letters.

When the local MP, Liberal Democrat Joshua Reynolds, called her to say he had been alerted by any of his constituents who had received them, she was the first she heard about them. Following the enactment of a controversial new National Security Law, Ms Lau had sought asylum in the United Kingdom in 2021. She has regularly criticized China's controversial proposals to establish a mega embassy in London, warning that it could become a base for trans-national persecution of China''s opposition abroad. Last year, up to a dozen of the same neighbors in Berkshire had letters from Hong Kong and ostensibly from the police, promising a bounty payment of £95,000 to anyone who would summon Ms Lau and hand her over to the Chinese embassy in London. Last month, the new letters were delivered from Macau, China's southern region, near Hong Kong. Ms Lau told the BBC,

I was really surprised because this was the first time it wasn't explicit and so uncomfortable to see.

While I was in Hong Kong, pro-Beijing agents were taught to use gender-based intimidation agAInst pro-democracy activists,she sAId,but AI has increased this kind of intimidation, not just transnational repression.

The government must be very clear that this is not acceptable,

Reynolds told the BBC,

we cannot have these letters sent to UK residents.

We need to find out who sent these letters,he said, adding thatofficials in Beijing must be kept accountable. Reynolds said he had discussed the issue with both the Home Office and the Foreign Office.

The safety and security of Hong Kongers in the United Kingdom is of utmost importance,

a government spokesperson said. Ms Lau said that police had warned her that they would be probing. The government has stated repeatedly that any attempt by a foreign power to intimidate, harass, or harm individuals or groups of communities would not be tolerated. The UK continues to raise questions regarding transnational repression specifically with the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities, according to the Department, and has publicly condemned the issuance of arrest warrants and bounties by the Hong Kong Police Force.