Called Aurora, she applied for asylum last week.

She joins a growing list of Hong Kong pro democracy activists fleeing the territory in the wake off Beijing's increased crackdown on dissidents.

D W correspondent Phoebe Kong met Aurora before she traveled to the U.

K.

Here's her story.

Aged 15 junior high school students, Aurora is packing for a trip off.

No return.

It will be her first time traveling alone.

This frog plushy, the icon of last year protest and a gift from her boyfriend, will be her only companion on her journey to the UK, where she is seeking political asylum.

Once a shelter for political dissidents from mainland China, Hong Kong no longer seems safe even for locals.

Aurora is among the city's youngest excels.

The teenage protester was arrested in May and has been living in fear ever since.

Sometimes I feel like being tailed.

I'm terrified of knots on the door as police may come after me.

All my teammates during protests are charged for serious offenses like rioting and arson.

All I'm afraid I'll be the next one someday.

My boyfriend's identity makes me feel more insecure.

Aurora's boyfriend, Zhangke King, was the first protester shot by police with a live bullet last year.

He is now facing three criminal charges.

The 19 year old was among a group of five activists who made a failed bid for asylum and assistance at the U.

S consulate in Hong Kong this October.

One off.

HM former leader off a pro independence group Tony Jiang, was arrested before he could reach the consulate gate and prosecuted under the national security law.

Sources told W that the other activists, including Jiang Xiqing, were given A fans permission to enter the consulate compound, but all were turned away after a brief stay without specific reason.

Although one of them is a U.

S.

Citizen, the U.

S.

Consulate General in Hong Kong said is unable to comment due to privacy issues way We're worried about unfair trials and treatment in custody way, three protest related charges sang cheekiness facing May put him behind bars for 6 to 7 years, WAY was shocked and hopeless of being rejected by the consulate.

Hong Kong authorities are trying every means to silence the dissidents way are even more fearful under the security law.

The couple haven't seen each other in the weeks because of safety concerns.

Aurora regrets having to leave without saying goodbye to most of her friends and family, but she doesn't regret how her activism has affected her life.

My generation is losing our freedoms day by day.

That's why I don't see my future seeking asylum may force myself into exile for the rest of my life, which makes me upset and anxious.

But sacrifices have to be made.

It's still worth fighting despite repression.

Otherwise, Hong Kong might be dead a lot sooner.

Aurora has now arrived in the UK, where it will take 6 to 10 months to evaluate her asylum application.

2020 must the start of a new political era in Hong Kong.

But a generation of exiles like Aurora Hope taken sustain the activism from afar, and someone who knows all about sustaining that activism.

Is Nathan Law or former Hong Kong lawmaker in exile.

He joins me now from London.

Nathan, a 15 year old applying for asylum, has Hong Kong failed its young people well, the news is definitely devastating because just put your in her shoes.

Um, 15 year old go trying to protect the city's freedom but end up living in exile and has to apply asylum in another country is a devastating news and experience for her.

And it also shows that the city, indeed felt, is young people and and the people in general, because, um, well, we were just fighting for democracy and autonomy.

But the city's judiciary system and also the government put all the political persecutions on these freedom fighters.

Yes, indeed, the political situation is really bad, and I think the 15 year ago is feeling imminent danger and make that unfavorable choice.

Now the UK itself where you are has made it possible for Hong Kongers who were born before 1997 the year of the handover, a path to, ah, British citizenship.

But that does not include people like Aurora who were born after 1997.

Do you think the U.

K government needs to rethink its policy?

Definitely.

We've been in close contact with the U.

K government and has been proposing that the scheme should include individuals who were born after 1997 mostly aged from 18 to 23 on day, are also in the main part off the protest, Um, to be able to have a pathway to citizenship in the UK So indeed, we are very grateful for the piano scheme which allows three million eligible piano holders to come to the UK But I think that is a void in the scheme.

And we could work hard.

Thio kind of make all the people in need have the opportunity to go to a free place assed they wish, How confident are you in your dealings with the UK government that the government is actually thinking of changing this policy?

I think the government is considering off course.

There are lots of facts is that the government has to consider on.

We appreciate that because, well, it is a big policy, So there must be a lot of cooperation between departments and a lot of policy consideration.

But I think that the government is indeed rethinking about the policy, and I really do hope that we can get ah, good news in the upcoming future.

Now, besides, or or a there are many other young protesters who are also fleeing Hong Kong and seeking asylum in countries like Germany, Canada and the United States.

How open have you found countries to granting asylum to Hong Kong activists?

I think it is quite early to say we've got cases in Germany and Canada and some other places, but normally the asylum seeking procedure takes months to years.

So for now, we don't have a massive amount of cases, uh, for well, good review or adequate reference.

Um, but I think in general the reception off the country's arises with the exposure of Hong Kong's protest and for Hong Kong people, we've got better documentation, etcetera.

So I think, um, indeed, there are many countries improving the policy towards Hong Kong people who fled, for example, in the US And I hope that by communicating with them and enhancing the efficiency off the asylum seeking process that we can, uh, let these countries to have a better understanding of what's happening in Hong Kong and benefit those who have left Nathan.

One final question.

What is it like to leave one's life behind where one grew up and never be able to go back again for me?

I left the city at the age of 27.

Um, I've let it for 5 to 6 months, but occasionally I have been thinking about home.

I've been thinking about staying with my parents on my family's having dinner together.

So it's definitely devastating.

And how broken when you think off these memories and you realize that you are being unable to go back, possibly in decades times or even for a longer time.

Grain.

So I think it's definitely a psychological paying for a lot of people, and, um, it's difficult, But I think for us we have greater course we were pursuing.

Of course, that is larger than ourselves, and it's for the people of phone call for their basic rights.

So I think for me, I never regret.

And I think most off the others share the same feeling.

Nathan Law, Thank you very much for speaking to us.