A couple of nights earlier, they were throwing Molotov cocktails during the ongoing anti-government demonstrations in Hong Kong. However, after two of their friends were arrested by the police, they became afraid that they would be arrested next. Feeling desperate, they reached out to a private online group that aids in escaping to Taiwan. Shortly after, they boarded a plane to Taipei, the capital city. One of the protesters stated, "We are running away from the authorities," as she nervously glanced around the food court. "We had a limited amount of time to understand the situation." After leaving the airport, the group quickly got into a black van and drove off towards an uncertain future. They are part of the more than 200 young activists who have sought refuge in Taiwan since the beginning of the Hong Kong democracy movement this year, according to lawyers, pastors, and other supporters who have assisted them in escaping. Lawyers have reported that many protesters have arrived in recent weeks after fleeing university campuses that were under siege by police. Their decision to leave is motivated by concerns of arrest and violence as the clashes between protesters and authorities have become more intense. Protesters are frequently met with tear gas, batons, and water cannons from the police. Some protesters have become more aggressive after feeling disillusioned by the peaceful tactics of the movement not yielding results. They have resorted to vandalizing buildings and attacking police with bricks. Over 5,000 people have been arrested since the protests began in June, with hundreds facing potential harsh sentences. Despite the determination of many to continue fighting, a growing sense of distrust is causing some demonstrators to leave Hong Kong. They are concerned about unfair treatment in court or potential abuse in detention, including allegations of sexual assault and rumors of torture. After hearing about arrests occurring in Hong Kong hospitals, some individuals are seeking medical treatment in Taiwan. Protesters and organizers assisting in the escapes emphasize the importance of keeping certain details and identities confidential to protect the operation. According to lawyer Chris Ng, protesters are aware that they could face up to 10 years in prison for their actions and have lost trust in Hong Kong's judicial system. Ng has observed protesters not showing up for court hearings, leading him to believe they may have fled Hong Kong. He believes that protesters do not trust that they will receive fair treatment or a proportionate punishment within the current system. A covert support system has emerged along the route from Hong Kong to Taiwan, with sympathizers setting up safe houses and arranging transportation for protesters. Wealthy donors and aid groups are funding plane tickets, volunteers are providing rides to and from airports, fishermen are charging high prices for boat rides, and pastors are organizing smuggling routes for protesters who have lost their passports. Chun Sen Huang, a dynamic 54-year-old pastor of the Chi Nan Presbyterian Church in Taipei, humorously remarked that he is becoming accustomed to unexpected gatherings. He has become a key figure in the network, working as a liaison to coordinate travel plans, arrange accommodations, and connect protesters with various resources in Taiwan. Huang is constantly busy fielding requests on his phone, even during sermons and prayers. Recently, he was informed of a protester in need of assistance after being allegedly raped by Hong Kong police, requiring a boat to smuggle her to Taiwan for an abortion. Additionally, a group of students escaped from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and arrived in Taiwan by plane after a standoff between police and protesters. Huang introduced them to a lawyer who assisted in obtaining temporary student visas through a university in Taiwan. A mother reached out seeking a new guardian for her 14-year-old son, who had been involved in throwing Molotov cocktails. Taiwan, a self-governing island known for its hospitality, is a popular destination for dissidents seeking refuge, much like Hong Kong. Despite Beijing's claim that Taiwan is part of China, Taiwanese leaders firmly assert their sovereignty. Many Taiwanese citizens have shown their support for the protests in Hong Kong due to concerns about the Chinese government's interference in Hong Kong and how it could impact their own democratic island. The protests began in response to an extradition bill, which has since been withdrawn, that would have allowed Hong Kong to extradite fugitives to Taiwan for trial, despite the lack of an extradition treaty between the two. Protesters in Hong Kong feared that this legal change could be used to send dissidents to mainland China, where the courts are controlled by the Communist Party. While Taiwan is supporting the protesters, the government is proceeding cautiously to avoid angering Beijing by enacting more relaxed asylum laws. Many individuals who come seeking safety end up in a legal grey area with only temporary visas. Huang, who has been a pastor in Taiwan for 22 years, has aided numerous dissidents fleeing persecution from the Chinese government, but had never witnessed an operation of this magnitude before. He compared it to "Operation Yellowbird," a covert network that helped hundreds of dissidents escape China and enter Hong Kong following the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989, when Hong Kong was still under British rule. "Darkness can never overcome light," Huang stated as he led five newcomers into the church. "I have faith that democracy and freedom will ultimately triumph over totalitarianism." The choice to flee is a difficult one for protesters. Ali, a senior at Hang Seng University, has been arrested twice for charges that could result in a 10-year prison sentence. The second time, she was detained in a parking lot with 70 other protesters for 48 hours. Ali described the lack of privacy, with male officers entering bathrooms without warning and overhearing other protesters being interrogated. She stated that she was accused of rioting without being told why. During her time in custody, she was unable to attend her first day of work as a teacher at a primary school and was subsequently dismissed. As she waits for her trial, her aspiration of becoming a teacher is fading. "It feels like reminiscing about a past life," she expressed. Ali conveyed her feelings of despair from her grandmother's house, where she currently resides. "I am left wondering what options are available to me now," she pondered, as her passport had been taken away, leaving her to consider relying on smugglers to transport her by boat to Taiwan. Despite this, she is concerned about abandoning her elderly grandmother, who is unable to care for herself. She also fears the possibility of never being able to come back. To assist protesters seeking to flee, volunteer groups offer financial support. A 48-year-old social worker shared that she had personally funded the escape of 11 protesters to Taiwan. The social worker, who does not have children of her own, expressed a sense of duty to assist young people, stating that she would be proud to be arrested for trying to help them resist totalitarianism. She began fundraising for protesters who were fleeing in July, after witnessing a group storm the legislative building. One of the individuals she assisted was a 17-year-old who had been kicked out of his home by his parents for participating in the protests. She primarily accepts donations in cash and in person to avoid detection by undercover police officers who may pretend to be supporters. She stated that the majority of Hong Kong residents are not satisfied, refuting Beijing's claim that the protests are driven by a small group influenced by the US. She mentioned that support for the protests comes from various sectors of society. In Taiwan, protesters typically receive monthly visas that can be renewed regularly. Daniel, a 22-year-old protester, has been living in Taiwan since July on an extended tourist visa. He described his initial involvement in the movement as "fairly radical," including storming Hong Kong's legislative building and being captured on surveillance footage. The next day, two police officers approached him on the sidewalk and informed him that they knew who he was. This made Daniel realize that he could no longer hide from the truth and that he had to leave home. Despite not being arrested, he feels uneasy and suspects that his phone has been compromised and someone is following him. A local aid group in Hong Kong provides him with a monthly stipend for living expenses, but he worries that the funds may not be sufficient in the long run. The stress he was under caused him to seek help from a psychologist, who determined that he had post-traumatic stress disorder. Daniel expressed that the most difficult aspect of his situation is the longing he has for the life he had to leave behind. Before he left, he recalls standing at the bottom of the stairs to his house, overcome with emotion. This moment is something he constantly revisits in his mind, as he realized he may never have the opportunity to return to Hong Kong and see his home or mother again. Text from around 2019 belonging to The New York Times Company.