‘Death by a Thousand Cuts’—Emily Lau on Communist China Stripping Hong Kong’s Freedoms



In Hong Kong, pro-democracy activists are being rounded up, journalists are being attacked, and the election system has been gutted. As the Chinese Communist Party continues to strip away Hong Kong’s freedoms, many are choosing exile. But not Emily Lau. A fierce champion of democratic principles, she served for nearly two decades on Hong Kong’s Legislative Council and helmed Hong Kong’s leading pro-democracy party from 2012 to 2016. As the horizon darkens, what will become of Hong Kong, this once-celebrated center of global finance? And what motivates Emily Lau to stand her ground—despite the risks she faces?