Yan Xiong escaped from China in 1992, but he and other dissidents are still being targeted by Beijing.
The BBC has followed families who have moved from Hong Kong to the UK, to see if life is everything they hoped for.
Why was Hong Kong British, how was it returned to China and what does the future of the city look like?
Doubt hangs over the future of one of Asia's most vibrant cities as it reaches a crucial halfway mark.
Despite China's recent restrictions, CY Leung claims Hong Kong has more autonomy than in 1997.
Two Hongkongers born in 1997, the year the city returned to China, tell us how they view identity.
Twenty five years on from the handover from the UK, many business owners and leaders remain optimistic.
The return of Hong Kong to China in 1997 is still a polarising topic for residents now living in the UK.
China promised to protect democratic freedoms for 50 years but new laws have effectively silenced all criticism.
