The Hong Kong police are offering large sums of money as rewards for tips that lead to the detention of five activists living outside of Hong Kong. This is being done as a means of suppressing dissent in response to the national security law imposed by China.
The decision, which increases the number of international activists labeled as fugitives by officials in July, received backlash from the governments of the US and UK.
Simon Cheng, Frances Hui, Joey Siu, Johnny Fok, and Tony Choi make up the group of five. They are currently residing in different countries such as the US and UK.
Steve Li, a member of the Hong Kong police’s national security team, stated that those who have left the country are still violating the national security law and posing a serious threat to national security.
Five individuals are facing charges for multiple violations of the security law, such as encouraging secession and subversion, and collaborating with foreign entities or external forces.
The police have announced that they are offering a reward of HK$1m (£100,000) for each of the five individuals wanted in connection with the case.
In 2020, Beijing enforced a national security law in Hong Kong following prolonged demonstrations against the government. This legislation carries severe penalties, including life imprisonment, for offenses such as subversion, secession, collusion with foreign powers, and terrorism.
According to Siu, an activist residing in Washington and a citizen of the United States, this is the initial instance of an American citizen being subjected to this type of warrant. This highlights the far-reaching impact of the national security law and its ability to create a chilling effect.
She expressed that she believes democratic nations, particularly the US, should take the initiative in confronting transnational repression and harassment tactics used against activists like herself.
A different activist dismissed the action. Simon Cheng, currently residing in Britain, shared on X: “If the government considers the pursuit of democracy and liberty to be a wrongdoing, we welcome the accusations to expose the true nature of social justice, refusing to submit to authority.”
The US Department of State expressed strong condemnation towards the actions of Hong Kong authorities and their “bounty list” aimed at democracy activists abroad.
According to the state department spokesperson Matthew Miller, during a routine news briefing on Thursday, this action demonstrates a clear lack of respect for global standards, democratic principles, and human rights. We strongly condemn any effort to enforce the national security law imposed by Beijing beyond their own borders. We also affirm that Hong Kong officials have no authority within the borders of the United States, where supporters of democracy and liberty will continue to exercise their constitutionally protected liberties and rights.
The UK’s foreign secretary, David Cameron, stated that he has directed officials in Hong Kong, Beijing, and London to urgently address the issue with both the Hong Kong and Chinese governments.
Cameron declared in a statement from his office that any foreign power’s efforts to intimidate, harass, or harm individuals or communities within the UK will not be accepted. He emphasized that this poses a danger to our democracy and basic human rights.
The Hong Kong police have reported the detainment of four individuals, two men and two women, whose ages range from 29 to 68. They are accused of providing monetary support through an online crowdfunding platform to two wanted activists, Nathan Law and Ted Hui.
These arrests mark the first instance of individuals being detained for financial support under the security laws. The crime is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Li emphasized the importance of identifying the individuals in question and making every effort to disrupt their sources of funding.
A well-known advocate, Agnes Chow, escaped from bail and left Hong Kong this month due to ongoing pressure from authorities that had negatively affected her well-being. Chow stated that she was compelled to go to Shenzhen, a city in southern China, where she was accompanied by police to a patriotic exhibit showcasing China’s accomplishments. She was later permitted to travel to Canada for her studies.
Source: theguardian.com
