March 18, 2025
Fake pamphlets falsely accusing a former Hong Kong politician and Australian resident, Ted Hui, of being an pro-Israel lawyer willing to “wage war” against Islamic terrorism were allegedly mailed to mosques in Adelaide in an apparent attempt to intimidate him and undermine social cohesion.
The pamphlets, which carry images of Hui and the name and contact details of his Adelaide law firm, have alarmed the Australian government, which will raise the matter with Chinese officials. It is not known who sent the pamphlets.
Hui is a former pro-democracy legislator who fled to Australia via Europe in 2019. In 2022 he was convicted in absentia for his role in pro-democracy protests during 2019 and sentenced to three and a half years in jail.
Hong Kong authorities have accused Hui of “foreign collusion” in social media posts seeking international support for Hong Kong under its national security law.
Hui said he had been contacted by representatives from unnamed government departments about the false pamphlets and had been assured the matter was being taken seriously.
The pamphlet falsely quotes Hui as saying “I am a pro-Jewish man and siding with Israel to wage war against those Islamic terrorism [sic]”. It also states that Hui can “provide assistance to local Jews”.
“Those pamphlets were sent to a few mosques in Adelaide,” Hui told Guardian Australia. “I understand it is not large scale, they were only sent to a few mosques.”
Hui said the government representative he had spoken to said the pamphlet had been sent from Macau, a special administrative region of China.
“They are trying to make trouble for me,” Hui said. “It can be quite terrifying, at the beginning, knowing that they know where I work.”
Hui said the pamphlet’s claims were “totally incorrect”.
“I have not spoken a word in public about the Israel-Palestinian war,” Hui said. “They have made a fake profile of me and are using it to stir conflict and tensions in Adelaide, among ethnic communities.”
The Chinese government has been contacted for comment.
On Monday Guardian Australia revealed that Melbourne homes had received anonymous letters purporting to offer a police bounty of $203,000 for information about an Australian citizen and pro-democracy activist, Kevin Yam, who is wanted for alleged national security crimes in Hong Kong.
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, is alarmed by both the letter to Yam and the pamphlet targeting Hui.
“We are a sovereign nation,” Wong said. “We do not accept any one of our citizens or on our shores, people being bullied or harassed or threated by a foreign power.
“We expect our democracy and our citizens to be able to operate free from such interference, that kind of pressure or threats. And we have and will make representations very clearly.”
Government sources have confirmed the pamphlet targeting Hui will be raised with Chinese officials.
The attorney general, the Australian federal police and the domestic spy agency have been contacted for comment.
The shadow home affairs minister, James Paterson, said the pamphlet appeared to be “a crude attempt to weaponise antisemitism for the purposes of foreign interference”.
“It must be investigated for potential breaches of the law,” Paterson told Guardian Australia. “If those responsible can be identified, serious penalties must follow to send the strong message that Australia jealously defends the rights of residents like Ted Hui to exercise freedom of speech.
“If a foreign government is ultimately responsible, it is an even more grotesque attempt to undermine social cohesion in Australia and would warrant a firm response.”
In July 2023 China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning urged Australia, the UK and the US to stop sheltering activists subject to arrest warrants in Hong Kong.
“Relevant countries need to respect China’s sovereignty and the rule of law in Hong Kong, stop lending support for anti-China elements destabilising Hong Kong, and stop providing a safe haven for fugitives,” she said.