Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong launches bid for parliament

Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong filed papers on Monday to run for parliament in Hong Kong, risking arrest or disqualification under the draconian new security law. Mr Wong, who at 23 is one of the most prominent faces of the city's struggle against Beijing, was among the victors in unofficial primaries organised by pro-democracy groups earlier this month. The groups aim to field a strong enough shortlist to win a majority in Hong Kong’s 70-seat legislative council. “I hope to let the world know [that] we choose not to surrender, how we choose not to kowtow to China,” said Mr Wong. “We’ll continue our fight until our last breath.” Critics of the national security law say it will be used to snuff out dissent, and be weaponised in the September legislative elections to obstruct opposition candidates, many of whom have organised or participated in the anti-government protests roiling Hong Kong. The city’s chief executive, Carrie Lam, last week declared the primaries “illegal" as she opened an investigation into whether they violated the new security law. The sweeping national security law, imposed by the ruling Chinese Communist Party on Hong Kong, criminalises secession, subversion, terrorism and foreign collusion with sentences up to life imprisonment.