Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong said he noticed at least four unknown vehicles tailing him yesterday, adding that stalking has “intensified” since the passing of the national security law.
In a Facebook post written on Monday night, Wong said he took an Uber to a police station, the Wong Tai Sin District Office to submit his candidacy for the Legislative Council elections, and later to Mong Kok for a press conference.
On all three journeys, he noticed vehicles—including a seven-seater van and a motorbike—shadowing him, so much so that his Uber driver asked whether they were being followed.
“In the Cross-Harbor Tunnel, Mong Kok and Wong Tai Sin, I repeatedly saw the same cars tailing [me]. It absolutely is not just a coincidence,” he wrote.
“I don’t know whether… it’s the police, national security officers, paparazzi, or where they come from. But I choose to make this known to remind others to be cautious about their safety,” he added.
Last month, Wong was leaving from a meeting with fellow activist Tiffany Yuen in San Po Kong when he narrowly avoided a physical confrontation with a man who appeared to be filming them. In a Facebook video he posted on June 7, Wong asked the man why he is following them. He then yelled aggressively and waved his umbrella as if to threaten a fight.
“Following, filming and overstepping to sell intelligence to national security units is not uncommon in mainland China,” he wrote after the incident. “But 24/7 monitoring of pro-democracy activists has already become a norm in Hong Kong.”
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The city has seen growing signs of authorities attempting to silence pro-democracy voices since the passing of the national security law. Two weeks ago, books authored by political activists—including Wong—were lifted from public library shelves for “review” of whether the literature breaches the new legislation.
Restaurants have been told to remove their “Lennon Walls,” and authorities are investigating if pro-democracy activists violated the security law by holding a pre-election primary earlier this month.
But reports of the activist being tailed raises concern that the security law could pose a personal safety risk to high-profile leaders.
“Everyone should be careful and avoid being out and about alone,” Wong cautioned.
