In a move that has drawn condemnation from Western countries and human rights groups, the Hong Kong police have issued arrest warrants and bounties for eight prominent pro-democracy activists currently in self-imposed exile. On Monday, the Hong Kong police announced a reward of HK$1 million (US$127,600) for each target for giving information that could help capture the eight targets who currently live overseas.
The individuals named in the arrest warrants are former legislators Nathan Law, Dennis Kwok, Ted Hui, unionist Mung Siu-tat, lawyer Kevin Yam, and activists Finn Lau, Anna Kwok, and Elmer Yuan who are currently based in the United States, Canada, Britain, and Australia. All of them have been accused of violating the National Security Law by colliding with foreign forces.
Hong Kong’s National Security Law took effect on 30 June 2020, giving Beijing enormous powers and control over the once-autonomous region. The law criminalizes any activities of secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign or external forces.
Image Source: Reuters
These eight individuals have been found guilty by the Hong Kong police for engaging in serious crimes that threaten national security, advocating for sanctions, undermining Hong Kong’s integrity, and intimidating local officials. Additionally, they plotted with foreign nations to undermine Hong Kong’s financial status. The crimes can carry a sentence of life in prison. All of these individuals departed Hong Kong during the height of the 2019 protests against the extradition bill and following the implementation of Beijing’s National Security Law in 2020.
Western Nations Condemn Hong Kong Police
Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States have denounced the Hong Police’s contravening announcement to capture the pro-democracy activists.
The US State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, expressed that the extraterritorial application of the Beijing-imposed National Security Law poses a dangerous precedent that jeopardizes the human rights and fundamental freedoms of people worldwide.
Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Secretary James Cleverly of the United Kingdom said, “We strongly object to the National Security Law that China imposed on Hong Kong, including its extraterritorial reach, in breach of the legally binding Sino-British Joint Declaration.” Australia’s foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, said Australia is deeply disappointed and concerned about the deep erosion of Hong Kong’s rights, freedoms, and autonomy.”
Human Rights Watch has urged foreign governments to speak out against the “Chinese government’s global intimidation campaign against Hong Kong people at home and abroad.”
Activists Urge Non-Cooperation with Hong Kong Authorities
Image Source: The New York Times
The activists targeted in the arrest warrants have urged others not to cooperate with the Hong Kong authorities.
Mr. Nathan Law, one of the activists, said he felt “relatively safe” in the UK; however, he should be more careful about the people he meets and the places he goes. He tweeted, “We should not limit ourselves, self-censor, be intimidated, or live in fear.” Another exiled activist, Anna Kwok, executive director of the Hong Kong Democracy Council, currently living in the US, stated, “We are united in our fight for freedom and democracy in our home, Hong Kong.” The Australian-based lawyer Kevin Yam has vowed that he will not be silenced, and he has an obligation to his fellow activists who are jailed in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Leader Vows Pursuit of Activists
On Tuesday, the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, John Lee said that the exiled activists would be “pursued for life.” While the police cannot arrest them from abroad, Lee said the authorities would continually monitor their actions and behaviour, and their only destiny is to surrender.
In response to the imposition of the National Security Law on Hong Kong by Beijing in 2020 UK, the US, Australia, and Canada, the countries where the accused activists currently reside, have suspended their extradition treaties with Hong Kong. Even though the accused trusted these governments not to comply with Hong Kong police’s request to turn them over, the arrest warrants have made their travel to other countries extremely unsafe.
