“I Don’t Expect to Live a Normal Life”: How a Leeds Teenager Became the Target of a Chinese Bounty

Published: 11 August 2025. The English Chronicle Desk

On Christmas Eve 2024, 19-year-old Chloe Cheung lay in her Leeds bedroom, scrolling through Instagram when her phone began flooding with messages from old school friends urging her to check the news. To her shock, reports across East Asia revealed that Chinese authorities had placed a bounty of HK$1 million (£94,000) on her head, accusing her of endangering national security. The photograph attached to the announcement showed a much younger Chloe, only 11 years old — the only image available before her family relocated to the UK in 2020.

Once a typical teenager who had just completed her A-levels, Chloe’s life had taken a dramatic turn. She had been working as a communications assistant for a UK-based group advocating for democracy in Hong Kong. But the bounty not only marked her as a criminal in the eyes of Beijing; it alienated her socially as friends distanced themselves to avoid repercussions. Even those in Leeds began to sever ties, fearing the ramifications of association with someone branded a dissident.

Chloe’s dream of travelling and reconnecting with friends in Hong Kong vanished overnight, replaced by the grim reality of being pursued “for life” by a government known for its relentless crackdown on dissent. “The bounty will follow me forever,” she says, describing it as psychological warfare aimed at silencing voices of opposition, no matter how young or far away.

Her story reflects the turbulent transformation Hong Kong has endured. Once a bastion of partial autonomy with its own democratic institutions and free press, the territory has seen Beijing impose strict control, especially after the “umbrella revolution” protests in 2019-20. The principle of “one country, two systems” has effectively been abandoned, with democratic parties dissolved and opposition voices stifled through aggressive legal and political measures.

Growing up, Chloe fondly remembers her patriotism and the routine flag-raising ceremonies broadcast on TV. But witnessing violent crackdowns on peaceful protests shattered her faith. At 14, her worldview was irreversibly altered when police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, and brutal arrests. “I realised whatever we had been learning in school was a lie,” she recalls. The brutal repression forced thousands into prison or exile, including her own family, who chose to relocate to the UK to safeguard their future.

Despite the upheaval, Chloe’s activism intensified. After submitting a report on women’s experiences during the protests to the United Nations and engaging with NGOs in Geneva, she found herself increasingly visible—and vulnerable. Chinese authorities, threatened by her profile and voice, targeted her relentlessly.

Attempts to intimidate Chloe have been brazen. She has endured waves of online abuse, harassment, and even physical surveillance by suspicious individuals. These dangers forced her to change her address and remain cautious in daily life. More ominously, attacks on Hong Kong activists abroad, such as the brutal assault of a protester at China’s consulate in Manchester, underscore the growing reach of Beijing’s repression overseas.

Chloe acknowledges the personal cost: job prospects have dimmed, especially with companies wary of antagonising China. Yet, she remains resolute. “I don’t expect to live a normal life, but compared with those imprisoned back home, my sacrifice is nothing,” she says, emphasizing her unwavering commitment to the cause of Hong Kong’s freedom.

The Hong Kong government labels her an “absconder” and accuses her of “activities endangering national security,” vowing to pursue her regardless of distance. But Chloe’s story is a stark testament to the ongoing struggle between authoritarian control and the human spirit’s refusal to be silenced.

In this quiet corner of Leeds, far from the protests and turmoil of her homeland, a young woman’s courage stands as a symbol of defiance — and a reminder that the fight for justice often comes at a profound personal price.