Hong Kong democracy activist Nathan Law said he has been granted political asylum in Britain, where he arrived last July after Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law on his home city.
Speaking on Twitter late on Wednesday, Nathan Law After said after several interviews in four months, the Home Office had informed him that his asylum application had been approved.
Analysts say the latest development is likely to stoke tensions between London and Beijing as Britain has opened its doors to potentially over five million residents of Hong Kong.
He said he is wanted under the national security law which shows he is exposed to severe political persecution and is unlikely to return to Hong Kong without risk.
Britain on Thursday pledged 43 million pounds to help would-be Hong Kong residents find jobs, houses and schools under the initiative allowing millions to resettle.
London estimates that over 300,000 Hong Kong residents could emigrate over the next five years, and Bank of America expects Hong Kong residents moving to Britain could trigger capital outflows of $36 billion in 2021.
Britain has accused China of multiple breaches of an agreement stating that China’s security law has undermined Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy.
China has repeatedly told Western powers to stop meddling in Hong Kong’s affairs.
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