Nathan Law

Nathan Law is not just a politician or an activist — he is a symbol of defiance, a young man who sacrificed everything in the name of freedom. Once a rising star in Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement, Law is now living in exile, unable to return home without facing imprisonment. His story is one of courage, resilience, and heartbreaking loss. It is a reminder that democracy is fragile and that those who dare to fight for it often pay an unbearable price.

A Young Activist Finds His Calling

Nathan Law was not born into a political family. He was not raised to be a revolutionary. He was just a young man who believed in fairness, in justice, and in the right of people to choose their own future. Born in Shenzhen, China, in 1993, Law moved to Hong Kong as a child, where he was raised in a working-class family. His father was a construction worker, his mother a cleaner. Like many Hong Kongers, his parents worked tirelessly, believing that their sacrifices would secure a better future for their children.

It was in university that Law’s passion for activism took root. He studied politics and public administration at Lingnan University, where he became deeply involved in student movements. He was just a teenager when he first stood in front of crowds, his voice trembling but his conviction strong. He spoke of freedom, of rights, of the simple idea that Hong Kongers should have a say in their own future.

Then, in 2014, everything changed.

The Umbrella Revolution: A Turning Point

In the fall of 2014, tens of thousands of protesters flooded the streets of Hong Kong. Armed with nothing but umbrellas — used to shield themselves from tear gas and pepper spray — they stood against one of the most powerful regimes in the world. Their demand was simple: genuine democracy.

Nathan Law, barely 21 at the time, was at the heart of it all. He became one of the student leaders of the Umbrella Movement, organizing rallies, leading chants, and negotiating with the government. He was young, hopeful, and idealistic, believing that if they fought hard enough, they could change the future.

But Beijing had no intention of listening. After 79 days of peaceful protest, the movement was crushed. The police cleared the streets, the government refused to compromise, and the dream of democracy seemed more distant than ever. Many activists left, disillusioned. But not Law. He was just getting started.

Making History: The Youngest Lawmaker in Hong Kong

The government had hoped that by shutting down the protests, they could silence the movement. But instead, it ignited a fire in a new generation of activists.

In 2016, at just 23 years old, Nathan Law ran for office. He was one of the founding members of Demosistō, a pro-democracy political party that called for self-determination for Hong Kong. With a campaign built on hope and resistance, Law won a seat in the Legislative Council (LegCo), becoming the youngest lawmaker in Hong Kong’s history.

It was a moment of triumph, proof that the people of Hong Kong had not given up on democracy. But Beijing saw it as a direct challenge to its authority. The Chinese government moved quickly to disqualify Law and other pro-democracy lawmakers, citing a technicality in how they had taken their oaths of office. Law’s time in LegCo was over before it had even begun.

Then came the real punishment.

The Targeting: Prison and Persecution

In 2017, Nathan Law was sentenced to prison for his role in the Umbrella Movement protests. Along with fellow activists Joshua Wong and Alex Chow, he was charged with “unlawful assembly” and sentenced to eight months in jail.

Law was now officially a political prisoner. The young man who had dreamed of representing his people in government was instead behind bars, locked away for daring to demand democracy. But even prison could not break his spirit. If anything, it strengthened his resolve.

Upon his release, he continued to fight. He spoke out at international events, warning the world about Beijing’s increasing grip on Hong Kong. But the Chinese government was determined to silence him for good.

The National Security Law: Exile and Fear

In June 2020, Beijing imposed the National Security Law on Hong Kong — a sweeping, authoritarian law that criminalized virtually all forms of dissent. Suddenly, calling for democracy was considered “subversion.” Protesting was now “terrorism.” Speaking to foreign officials was labeled “collusion.”

Nathan Law knew that if he stayed in Hong Kong, he would be arrested. The government had already arrested many of his fellow activists, shutting down Demosistō and targeting anyone who dared to resist. His only choice was to flee.

In July 2020, just weeks after the law was enacted, Law boarded a plane. He had no idea if he would ever return. He was forced into exile, leaving behind his home, his family, his friends.

A Voice in Exile

Today, Nathan Law lives in London. In December 2020, he was granted political asylum in the United Kingdom. From abroad, he continues to advocate for Hong Kong, speaking to world leaders, attending human rights summits, and urging democratic nations to stand up against Beijing’s growing authoritarianism.

But the cost of exile is heavy.

In 2021, the Hong Kong government issued an arrest warrant for Law, accusing him of violating the National Security Law. His name is on a most-wanted list, with a bounty placed on his capture. He knows that he can never return home — not without facing immediate imprisonment. 

And yet, he refuses to be silenced.

Fighting for Hong Kong’s Future

Nathan Law’s story is not just about one man. It is about an entire generation of Hong Kongers who grew up believing in freedom, only to watch it be stripped away. It is about a city that once prided itself on its liberties but is now under near-total control by Beijing.

Law continues to fight, not because he believes victory is near, but because he knows that surrender is not an option. He advocates for Hong Kongers in exile, for those still imprisoned, for the young activists who now whisper their dissent in fear instead of shouting it in the streets.

In 2022, he published his memoir, “Freedom: How We Lose It and How We Fight Back”, chronicling his journey from student activist to exiled dissident. He uses his platform to remind the world that the fight for Hong Kong is not over—that even in exile, even under threat, the spirit of resistance lives on.

A Final Thought

Nathan Law was once just a university student with a dream of a better Hong Kong. Today, he is a man without a home, a politician without a country, and an activist who may never again see the city he loves.

But if you ask him, he will tell you that it was all worth it.

Because for Nathan Law, democracy is not just an ideal. It is a cause worth sacrificing everything for. And as long as he has a voice, he will continue to use it — to speak for those who no longer can.

Contact & Advocacy

Nathan Law continues to speak out for democracy and human rights. You can follow his work through:

• Website: www.nathanlawkc.com

• X (formerly Twitter): @nathanlawkc

• Buy his Book: Freedom: How We Lose It and How We Fight Back