Exiled Hong Kong activist target of sexually explicit harassment campaign
A high-profile Hong Kong pro-democracy activist living in the UK has been the target of an intimidation campaign involving letters containing fake, sexually explicit photos sent to her neighbours.
Carmen Lau, 30, who moved to the UK from Hong Kong four years ago, told the BBC she was "shocked" when the letters were sent to addresses in Maidenhead. The letters included her name and images that made it appear she was naked or in underwear, soliciting sexual services.
"The letters contained a few bad pictures, whether AI-generated or photoshopped, in which they portrayed me as a sex worker," she said. The story was first reported by The Guardian.
Ms Lau first learned of the campaign when her local MP, Liberal Democrat Joshua Reynolds, called to say he had been alerted by constituents who had received the mail.
A History of Harassment
Ms Lau sought asylum in the UK in 2021 following the enactment of Hong Kong's controversial new National Security Law. She has regularly criticised China's proposals to establish a "mega-embassy" in London, warning that it could become a base for transnational persecution of China's opposition abroad.
This is not the first time she has been targeted. Last year, up to a dozen of the same neighbours in Berkshire received letters, ostensibly from the Hong Kong police, promising a bounty of £95,000 to anyone who would detain Ms Lau and hand her over to the Chinese embassy in London.
The latest batch of letters, delivered last month, was posted from Macau, a special administrative region on China's southern coast near Hong Kong.
"I was really surprised because this was the first time it was explicit and so uncomfortable to see," Ms Lau told the BBC.
"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."
"Unacceptable" Intimidation
Joshua Reynolds told the BBC that the government must be very clear that this behaviour is not acceptable.
"We cannot have these letters sent to UK residents," he said. "We need to find out who sent these letters and ensure that officials in Beijing are held accountable." Mr Reynolds added that he had discussed the issue with both the Home Office and the Foreign Office.
A government spokesperson stated: "The safety and security of Hong Kongers in the United Kingdom is of utmost importance."
Ms Lau confirmed that the police had contacted her and would be investigating the matter. The government has repeatedly stated that any attempt by a foreign power to intimidate, harass, or harm individuals or communities in the UK will not be tolerated.
The Foreign Office said it continues to raise the issue of transnational repression directly with Chinese and Hong Kong authorities and has publicly condemned the issuance of arrest warrants and bounties by the Hong Kong Police Force.
