HONG KONG: A pro-democracy activist, Agnes Chow, was released on bail on August 11 after being arrested under China’s new national security law, and has urged Japanese people to watch closely over the situation regarding the region.

In a video, Chow thanked the support she received from the Japanese public.

She spoke in Japanese for around three minutes of the 25-minute video.

Chow said that she was arrested on August 10 without being mentally prepared and was unable to grasp the situation at the time.

She said that she may still be indicted or jailed in the near future.

Noting that she learned about the voices of support and protest among Japanese people through her lawyer, Chow said that she is filled with gratitude.

Chow was released on bail late Tuesday night, after being arrested on Monday night for allegedly violating the national security law, which was recently put into effect by the Chinese government to strengthen its control over Hong Kong.

Although Monday’s arrest of Jimmy Lai, the founder of the Apple Daily newspaper, was widely covered by local media outlets in Hong Kong, the Japanese side’s response to Chow’s arrest also made headlines in the region.

JIJI Press