A 15-year-old teenager arrested in a protest last year has arrived in London last week to seek political asylum, making her the youngest Hong Kong protester to go into exile so far.

The girl, who called herself Aurora, is the girlfriend of Tsang Chi-kin, a secondary school student shot in the chest by a live round on Chinese National Day last year and later charged with rioting. She felt unsafe after being followed by unknown men and chose to leave Hong Kong with the knowledge that she may never be able to return.

Speaking to Apple Daily, Aurora said she was immediately taken in by British customs officers upon arrival in London on her own and applied for asylum. The U.K. authorities have confirmed that she is qualified for asylum and will provide living arrangements.

She was arrested during one of the pro-democracy protests last year, however, since she was still a minor, she was not formally charged with unlawful assembly.

“If I stay in Hong Kong, it will only be more and more dangerous for me. It’s like I’m waiting for my death. I don’t know when police will decide to prosecute me,” said the 15-year-old. She suspected she was tailed because of the record of her arrest, her relationship with Tsang as well as another frontline protester who was charged with rioting and arson. “I fear one day they will nab me as well,” she said.

She met Tsang on the protest frontline and the two developed a relationship. The 18-year-old pleaded guilty to his charges of rioting and attacking police officers and will likely be immediately imprisoned upon his sentencing trial on Dec. 22. She felt sad as the two did not even have the opportunity to see each other for one last time.

The British-based pro-democracy group Friends of Hong Kong is now assisting her in settling down in the U.K. Malcolm, spokesperson of the group, said they will provide as much support as they can to Aurora and, in particular, seek psychological treatment for her depression.

Aurora hopes to join the group in the future, to support others in exile and campaign for international awareness on how political persecution has divided families and imprisoned Hong Kong youths.

It is heartbreaking that a 15-year-old needs to seek protection abroad, said Ted Hui, former lawmaker now in exile in the U.K.

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