Hong Kong police on Tuesday announced a new round of arrest warrants for six overseas-based activists, with rewards set at HK$1 million for information leading to their arrests.
According to the orders, the six are wanted for national security crimes such as secession, subversion and collusion with foreign forces. They include Tony Chung, former leader of the now-defunct independence group Studentlocalism.
Carmen Lau, a former district councilor and current Hong Kong Democracy Council activist based in the United Kingdom, as well as Chloe Cheung, an activist with the Hong Kong Freedom Committee, were also issued with arrest warrants.
The latest round of court orders indicates that the Hong Kong government is targeting vocal critics based abroad.
Previously, the government had issued two rounds of arrest warrants and rewards for more prominent activists, including former lawmakers Ted Hui and Nathan Law.
The growing number of people wanted overseas comes as Hong Kong continues to crack down on political dissent following massive anti-government protests in 2019 that resulted in a wave of pro-democracy movements. Since then, many outspoken pro-democracy activists have been jailed and others have fled abroad.
Chung, the former leader of Studentlocalism, said in a story posted on Instagram that he felt “honored” to be the first Hong Konger accused of violating the national security law twice.
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“As a staunch Hong Kong nationalist, today's search notice is certainly a kind of affirmation for me. In the future, I will continue to unswervingly and fearlessly promote Hong Kong's self-determination,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, Cheung, who resides in the United Kingdom, said in an Instagram post that “even in the face of a powerful enemy, I will continue to do what I believe is right.”
“How fragile, incompetent and cowardly does a regime have to be to believe that I, an ordinary 19-year-old Hong Konger, can 'endanger' and 'divide' the country? How scared are you that you have to offer me a million dollar reward? she asked.
Lau posted on Hong Kong's right to self-determination.
“The Hong Kong government's latest round of arrest warrants and rewards against six Hong Kong activists is a cowardly act of intimidation aimed at silencing the people of Hong Kong,” said Maya Wang, associate China director at Human Rights Watch. .
“All six, including two Canadian citizens, live in the United Kingdom and Canada. “We call on the governments of the United Kingdom and Canada to act immediately to confront the Hong Kong government’s attempts to threaten Hong Kongers living in their countries.”
Tuesday's arrest warrants bring the total number of people wanted to 19.
Others on Tuesday's list are Chung Kim-wah, formerly a senior member of the independent polling organization Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute; Joseph Tay, co-founder of the Canada-based NGO HongKonger Station; and YouTuber Víctor Ho.
Separately, the Hong Kong government on Tuesday issued orders canceling the passports of seven “fugitives,” including former lawmakers Hui and Dennis Kwok, wanted under the security law.
The orders were issued under Hong Kong's national security law, known as Article 23, and also prohibits the seven from dealing with funds in Hong Kong, as well as activities related to joint ventures and property.
© 2024 The Canadian Press