All eight are wanted in connection with alleged violations of the national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020. Two are former lawmakers. Aa bounty of around US$ 130,000 is hanging over their heads. As a member of Interpol, China is calling for their extradition. They are accused of demanding Hong Kong's independence and carrying out “illegal activities”.
Hong Kong (AsiaNews) – Hong Kong police have issued arrest warrants for eight activists for violating the draconian national security law imposed by Beijing in the former British colony to crack down on dissent.
All eight are living in exile. Two, Ted Hui and Dennis Kwok, are former members of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council (LegCo), charged with various offences, including subversion and promoting the territory’s independence.
Hong Kong’s national security police has offered a HK million (US$ 130,000) bounty for each activist, a first for people wanted under the security law, which punishes acts of secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces.
The announcement came a week after an editorial appeared in the state-owned newspaper Ta Kung Pao, citing Article 38 of the infamous law saying that it also applies to people living outside Hong Kong.
In particular, the law gives China, as a member of Interpol, the right to request the cooperation of other countries to apprehend fugitives.
The arrest warrants were issued two days after the third anniversary of the law's entry into effect and 26 years after the territory was returned to China.
In addition to the aforementioned former lawmakers, the warrants include activists Nathan Law, Anna Kwok, Elmer Yuen, Mung Siu-tat and Finn Law as well as lawyer Kevin Yam.
At present, the eight exiles (picture by Hong Kong Free Press) are in Canada, Australia, the United States, and Great Britain.
For National Security Police Chief Superintendent Steve Li, bounties are not for show, but are an act of law enforcement.
The goal is to arrest the suspects because, despite having fled Hong Kong, they continue to carry out illegal activities that endanger the Autonomous Region, like advocating self-determination and independence for Hong Kong.
According to the police, the eight also “seriously violated" the law by calling for exemplary sanctions against "local officials" and scheming on behalf of “foreign countries to undermine Hong Kong's financial status".
The suspects should come forward and surrender to the authorities so that the courts can "consider imposing a lighter sentence on them".
The police reported that 260 people, aged 15 to 90, have been arrested for endangering national security since the law came into effect, two thirds of whom have been charged. Five companies have also been indicted.