A couple of nights earlier, they had been throwing Molotov cocktails during the ongoing anti-government demonstrations in Hong Kong. However, when their friends were arrested by the police, they became afraid that they would be next. In a state of desperation, they reached out to a private online group that assists people in escaping to Taiwan. Quickly, they found themselves on a flight to Taipei, the capital city. One of the protesters nervously mentioned, "We are running from the authorities," as she scanned the food court with anxious eyes. "We didn't have much time to determine what was going on." After leaving the airport, the group quickly got into a black van and drove away, unsure of what the future held. They are part of the over 200 young protesters who have fled to Taiwan since the beginning of this year's Hong Kong democracy movement, according to lawyers, pastors, and other supporters who have assisted in their escape. Lawyers have reported that many protesters have recently arrived after escaping police-sieged university campuses. The protesters are fleeing due to fears of arrest and violence, as the clashes between demonstrators and authorities have become increasingly intense. Protesters are frequently met with tear gas, batons, and water cannons from police. Some protesters have become more aggressive, vandalizing buildings and throwing bricks at police, after feeling bitter that the peaceful tactics of the movement did not work. Over 5,000 people have been arrested since the protests began in June, with hundreds facing harsh sentences. Despite many vowing to continue fighting, a growing sense of mistrust is causing some demonstrators to leave Hong Kong out of fear of unfair treatment in court or abuse in detention, including allegations of sexual assault and rumors of torture. Some individuals are seeking medical treatment in Taiwan after hearing about arrests occurring in hospitals in Hong Kong. Protesters and organizers helping with the escapes emphasized the importance of keeping certain details and identities confidential to protect the operation. According to lawyer Chris Ng, protesters are aware of the severe consequences they could face, such as up to 10 years in prison, and have lost trust in Hong Kong's judicial system. Ng has witnessed protesters not showing up in court, likely having fled Hong Kong. He explained that even if they are willing to face legal consequences, they doubt they will be treated fairly or receive a proportionate punishment. A secret network of supporters has emerged along the pipeline connecting Hong Kong and Taiwan, assisting protesters with safe houses, transportation, and exits. Wealthy donors, aid groups, volunteers, fishermen, and pastors are all playing a role in this covert operation. This includes funding airplane tickets, providing transportation to and from airports, offering boat rides for a high price, and arranging smuggling routes for protesters who have been arrested and had their passports confiscated. Chun Sen Huang, a 54-year-old pastor of Chi Nan Presbyterian Church in Taipei, humorously remarked that he is becoming accustomed to unexpected gatherings. He plays a significant role in the network by serving as a liaison, coordinating travel plans, arranging accommodations, and connecting protesters with various resources in Taiwan. Huang is constantly busy, receiving requests on his phone even during sermons and prayers. Recently, he was informed about a protester who claimed to have been assaulted by Hong Kong police and needed help getting to Taiwan for an abortion. Additionally, he assisted ten students who escaped from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University campus during the police-protester standoff. Huang introduced them to a lawyer who assisted them in obtaining temporary student visas from a university in Taiwan. A mother contacted, seeking a new guardian for her 14-year-old son who had thrown Molotov cocktails. Taiwan, an autonomous island, is a convenient and hospitable sanctuary. Similar to Hong Kong, it has a tradition of accepting dissidents from mainland China. Despite Beijing considering Taiwan as part of China, Taiwanese leaders maintain their independence. Many Taiwanese citizens have shown their support for the protests in Hong Kong due to concerns about Chinese government interference and how it may impact their own democratic island in the future. The protests began in response to anger over an extradition bill that has since been withdrawn, which would have allowed Hong Kong's leaders to send a fugitive to Taiwan to face charges of murder, even though there is no extradition treaty between the two regions. Protesters in Hong Kong feared that this legal change could be used to send dissidents to mainland China for trial, where the courts are controlled by the Communist Party. While Taiwan is supportive of the protesters, the government is proceeding cautiously to avoid angering Beijing by enacting more lenient asylum laws. Many individuals who come seeking safety end up in a legal gray area with only temporary visas. Huang, who has been a pastor in Taiwan for 22 years, has helped several dissidents escape persecution from the Chinese government, but he has never witnessed an operation of this magnitude before. He compared the situation to "Operation Yellowbird," a covert network that smuggled numerous dissidents out of China and into 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 guided five newcomers into the church. "I am confident that democracy and freedom will ultimately triumph over totalitarianism." The choice to flee is a difficult one for protesters. Ali, a student at Hang Seng University, has been arrested twice and could face up to 10 years in prison. During her second arrest, 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 unannounced and overhearing other protesters being interrogated. She said she was accused of rioting without being told why. While in custody, she missed her first day as an associate teacher at a primary school and got fired. As she waits for her trial, the dream of becoming a teacher is fading. "It feels like thinking about a life that's already gone," she explained. "My hopes for the future are shattered," Ali said, speaking from her grandmother's house where she resides. “I am left wondering what remains for me,” she pondered, now that her passport has been taken away, forcing her to consider relying on smugglers to transport her by boat to Taiwan. Despite this, she is concerned about leaving her elderly grandmother behind, who is unable to care for herself. The uncertainty of being able to come back weighs heavily on her mind. Fortunately, there are groups of volunteers offering financial assistance to protesters seeking to flee, with one social worker sharing that she had funded 11 individuals to reach Taiwan. The social worker, who has no children of her own, expressed her sense of responsibility to assist young people in need. She mentioned that even if she were to be arrested, she would take pride in her efforts to support the youth against totalitarianism. The social worker began fundraising for protesters who were fleeing in July, following an incident where a group of them breached the legislative building. She assisted a 17-year-old who had been expelled from his home by his parents for participating in the protests. She primarily receives donations in cash and in person, aiming to evade undercover police officers who may pretend to be supportive donors. She mentioned that the majority of people in Hong Kong are not happy and it is not just a small group of radical young people influenced by the USA, as claimed by Beijing. She explained that support for the protests comes from all sectors of society. In Taiwan, protesters typically receive monthly visas which 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 quite extreme, including storming Hong Kong's legislative building, where his face was caught on surveillance footage. The following day, two police officers approached him on the sidewalk and informed him that they had identified him. Daniel admitted that this encounter made him face the reality that he could no longer ignore - he needed to leave his home. Although he managed to avoid getting arrested, he still does not feel safe. Daniel suspects that his phone has been hacked and that he is being monitored. He receives financial support from an aid group in Hong Kong to cover his living expenses, but he worries that the funds may not last. The pressure he was under caused him to seek help from a psychologist, who identified post-traumatic stress disorder. Daniel mentioned that the most difficult aspect is the longing he has for the life he had to abandon. He recalled a heartbreaking moment just before he left, standing at the foot of the stairs to his home in tears. This memory haunts him constantly as he realizes he may never return to Hong Kong to see his mother or his home again. Text from around 2019, belonging to The New York Times Company.