In a daring escape from years of repression in Hong Kong, prominent democracy activist Agnes Chow has made the decision to jump bail and flee to Canada. Chow, who had her passport seized and was labelled a "foreign agent," was given an unexpected opportunity to study in Canada in exchange for writing a letter of repentance and visiting mainland China. This move came after Chow served a seven-month jail sentence and faced a charge of "collusion." Facing an uncertain future with the charge looming, she decided to take the risk of travelling to mainland China with Hong Kong security officers, who instructed her to keep the trip a secret from everyone, including her lawyer and family.

According to Chow, the trip to the mainland city of Shenzhen in August was a frightening experience. She was photographed multiple times and was later instructed to write another letter, expressing gratitude to the officers for showing her the greatness of China. Despite this, Chow remained determined to carry out her plan. Approximately a month later, her passport was returned, and she was allowed to fly to Canada, where she has decided to seek safety and remain indefinitely.

Chow's decision to flee was motivated by a deep sense of fear and insecurity in Hong Kong. While she expressed love for her hometown, she also described it as a "place of fear." The recent political climate and the imposition of the national security law by Beijing have led to a crackdown on pro-democracy activists like Chow. Many individuals, including media tycoon Jimmy Lai and campaigner Joshua Wong, have faced charges under this law.

The Hong Kong government has declared its intention to pursue Chow "for life" in response to her decision to remain in Canada. However, Chow believes that the authorities are leveraging the national security law as a political tool to suppress dissent and silence political dissidents.

Chow's ordeal highlights the systematic use of letter-writing and televised confessions as tactics employed by the Chinese authorities to discredit and control dissidents. It echoes past incidents where dissidents, such as Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo, were forced to deny their involvement in pro-democracy movements through such means.

Stranded in Hong Kong with limited job prospects due to her criminal record, Chow found solace in the opportunity offered by a postgraduate program in Canada early this year. However, gaining access to her passport required her to write a series of letters, which included a detailed travel request and expressions of repentance for her activism. Chow was given a template to follow, with the letters being typed by someone else and handed to her for copying.

With her decision to seek safety in Canada, Chow hopes to escape the stifling environment in Hong Kong and prioritize her personal safety, physical and mental health. As she rebuilds her life in Canada, the courageous activist remains committed to the struggle for democracy and vows to continue advocating for the rights and freedoms of her fellow Hong Kong citizens.

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