Hong Kong is offering rewards for six activists arrested overseas

Hong Kong police have offered rewards of HK$1 million (£103,000; US$129,000) for information leading to the arrest of six pro-democracy activists living in the United Kingdom and Canada.

Among them is Tony Chung, the former leader of a pro-independence group He fled to the UK last year.

The group – which includes a former regional council member, actor and YouTuber – is lobbying for more democracy in the province. They are all accused of violating the city’s national security law.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy criticized the move, calling on Hong Kong authorities to “end their targeting of individuals in the UK and elsewhere who stand up for freedom and democracy.”

“We will not tolerate any attempts by foreign governments to coerce, intimidate, harass or harm their critics abroad, especially in the UK,” he said, adding that the UK government is committed to supporting those from Hong Kong who have moved to the UK. .

Also among those wanted are former district councilor Carmen Lau and activist Chloe Cheung. Both are based in the UK and lobby on behalf of two NGOs demanding greater democracy in Hong Kong.

Arrest warrants have also been issued for political commentator and pollster Chung Kim Wah, who left Hong Kong for the United Kingdom in 2022, as well as two people residing in Canada: former actor Joseph Tai, who co-founded the Hong Kong NGO Hong Kong Station “, and YouTube user. Victor is.

Mr. Hu was charged with subversion while the other six were charged with incitement to secession and collusion with a foreign country or external forces.

According to Hong Kong’s public broadcaster, the city’s top police commanders on Tuesday announced the arrest warrants, accusing some of the wanted activists of repeatedly asking foreign countries to impose sanctions and other measures against China and Hong Kong.

Chung was first convicted in 2021 on charges of calling for Hong Kong secession, and was released in June last year.

“I am honored to become the first Hong Kong citizen to be charged twice under the national security law,” he posted on Instagram on Tuesday.

Chung said the news was not surprising to him because he had violated a probation order after being released from prison by fleeing to the UK last year.

“I knew this day would come. From the moment I decided to leave Hong Kong, I was fully aware that I would not be able to return for a long time,” he wrote.

Chung confirmed to the BBC that he is still waiting for the UK government to approve his asylum application.

Ms. Lau posted on X that the arrest warrant would not stop her advocacy work. The governments of the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union called for sanctions to be imposed on “human rights perpetrators in Hong Kong.”

It also asked the UK Labor government to “seriously reconsider its strategies to address cross-border repression targeting Hong Kong residents” and consider blocking plans for a new Chinese embassy in Tower Hill.

Earlier this month, Tower Hamlets councillors It voted unanimously to reject the plans. However, the ruling is only advisory and non-binding, and it will be up to Deputy Prime Minister and Communities Minister Angela Rayner to decide whether or not permission will be granted.

This is the third round of arrest warrants and rewards issued since the national security law was imposed in Beijing.

The first two rounds were issued in July and December last year, targeting former MP Nathan Law – who told the BBC last year that… His life has become more dangerous since the reward was announced – Simon Cheng, former employee of the UK Consulate He was detained in 2019 in a high-profile case. Both men now reside in the United Kingdom.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning supported the move on Tuesday, saying the Chinese government supports Hong Kong “in performing its duties in accordance with the law.”

She added that Hong Kong is “a society governed by the rule of law and no one has extrajudicial privileges.”

It was Hong Kong’s controversial national security law imposed in 2020 In response to the 2019 anti-government protests that rocked the city for months.

Beijing and Hong Kong authorities say the law is necessary to maintain stability and deny it has weakened autonomy, but critics say it has reduced the city’s autonomy and made a wide range of opposition actions illegal.