The activist is currently held at a detention centre over her visa. The UNHCR office in the Thai capital had granted her protection status. Hong Kong authorities accuse her of "subversion" under the territory’s national security law. Her "crime" is membership in the Hong Kong Parliament group of exiles.

Bangkok (AsiaNews) – Thai authorities have detained Zhang Xinyan, who now faces deportation because of an arrest warrant issued by Hong Kong against her for engaging in what Hong Kong prosecutors call “subversion” under the territory’s infamous pro-Beijing national security law.

International legal experts and NGOs are concerned about the fate of Zhang Xinyan, a pro-democracy activist and a member of the Hong Kong Parliament group in exile, after she was arrested in the Thai capital on unclear visa-related charges and taken to a detention centre.

Human rights groups fear that she may be handed over to China, even though she holds UN documents certifying her refugee status and therefore in need of protection.

Sunai Phasuk, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch (HRW), was among the first to report Zhang’s arrest on social media. “Urgent! Another refugee arrested!” he wrote, confirming that Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's government had detained Zhang, who is wanted by Hong Kong and Chinese authorities for alleged national security violations.

HRW reported that Hong Kong officials had revoked her passport and put a bounty of HK$ 200,000 (around US$ 25,000) on her head.

Sunai warned that any forced return to China could seriously jeopardise her health, as well as constitute a clear violation of international law and Thailand's own law on the prevention of torture and enforced disappearance.

Furthermore, according to Radio France Internationale (RFI), Zhang has papers issued by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Bangkok certifying her status as a person in need of protection.

Her detention allegedly for overstaying her visa and working without a permit is in no way justified.

Contacted by the South China Morning Post, a Hong Kong government spokesperson declined to comment on media reports regarding actions by law enforcement in other jurisdictions. On condition of anonymity, he noted, however, that the authorities spare no effort in prosecuting those wanted for violations of national security laws.

Thailand does not have an asylum system for refugees. The UNHCR is the only organisation in the country responsible for receiving and evaluating applications for refugee status, while those without a valid visa to the kingdom are at high risk of detention.

For Hong Kong's Office for Safeguarding National Security, the action by Zhang’s group, which include holding illegal elections, “posed a serious threat to national sovereignty, security and developmental interests of the country”.

The Hong Kong Parliament group, founded and run by self-exiled activists, set up an "electoral committee" in Canada to hold elections that “represent, solidify and revive Hong Kong people’s rights of self-determination.”

If sent back, Zhang could become the first person charged under the national security law to be deported and imprisoned.

Hong Kong and Thailand do not have an agreement on the repatriation of fugitives, although forced returns have occurred in the past. One of the most notable is that of 62-year-old Mui Yiu-keung last February, who was wanted in connection with a murder on a beach in Sai Kung nearly 37 years ago.

Hong Kong authorities have also worked with Thai police to rescue people trapped in online scam hubs across Southeast Asia.

Zhang was among a group of 19 activists on a round of arrest warrants issued in July last year by Hong Kong authorities, with rewards ranging from HK$ 20,000 (US$ 2,500) to HK$ 1 million (US$ 125,000).

Prosecutors allege that between February and June 2025, the activists were involved in the so-called Hong Kong Parliament, established by overseas activists with the aim of creating a democratic shadow legislature in opposition to the territory’s current pro-China leaders.

According to the Hong Kong Parliament's YouTube channel, Zhang ran for a seat in the shadow legislature early last year. Police and prosecutors believe the wanted men and women sought to subvert state power and achieve self-determination for the former British colony.

The activists targeted by Hong Kong are part of a larger group of at least 34 people currently wanted under Hong Kong's national security law for a range of offences, like subversion, inciting secession, and collusion with foreign forces.

Some of them have a million Hong Kong dollar bounty, including former pro-democracy lawmakers Ted Hui, Dennis Kwok, and Nathan Law.

Activists Anna Kwok and Frances Hui, as well as political commentator Elmer Yuen, who is accused of launching a referendum to create the Hong Kong Parliament, are also among those facing million-dollar bounties.

• hong kong
• china
• thailand
• pro-democracy activists
• detention
• deportation
• national security law
• repression