Hong Kong police on Tuesday announced a new round of arrest warrants for six overseas-based activists – including two Canadian citizens – with rewards set at $185,000 for information leading to their arrest.
According to the arrest warrants, the six people are wanted for national security offenses such as secession, subversion and collusion with foreign forces. They include Tony Chung, the former leader of the now-defunct pro-independence group Studentlocalism.
UK-based Carmen Lau, a former district councilor and current activist with the Hong Kong Democratic Council, as well as Chloe Cheung, an activist with the Hong Kong Freedom Committee, were also the subject of arrest warrants for they.
The latest round of arrest warrants indicates that the Hong Kong government is targeting vocal critics based overseas.
The government had previously issued two sets of arrest warrants and bounties against 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 gave rise to a wave of pro-democracy movements. Many ardent pro-democracy activists have since been imprisoned, while others have fled abroad.
Hong Kong police announced arrest warrants Tuesday for six foreign activists, including two Canadian citizens, and offered a $185,000 bounty for information leading to their arrest. Cheuk Kwan of the Toronto Association for Democracy in China discusses the impact on his community and how Canada should respond.
Activists react to bounties placed on their heads
Chung, the former Studentlocalism leader, said in an Instagram post that he was “honored” to be the first Hong Konger to be charged with twice violating the national security law.
“As a staunch Hong Kong nationalist, today’s wanted poster is undoubtedly an affirmation of sorts for me. In the future, I will continue to tirelessly and fearlessly promote Hong Kong’s self-determination. Hong Kong,” he wrote.
Separately, Cheung, who is based 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 must a regime be to believe that I, an ordinary 19-year-old Hong Konger, can “endanger” and “divide” the country? a million dollar bounty on me? » she asked.
Article 23, a controversial national security law in Hong Kong, has come into force. Many fear that cracking down on dissent will further erode civil liberties.
Lau posted on urged democracies to support Hong Kong’s right to self-determination.
“The latest round of arrest warrants and bounties issued by the Hong Kong government against six Hong Kong activists is a cowardly act of intimidation aimed at silencing the people of Hong Kong,” said Maya Wang, Deputy Director from China to Human Rights Watch.
“The six people, including two Canadian citizens, live in the United Kingdom and Canada. We call on the British and Canadian governments to act immediately to repel the Hong Kong government’s attempts to threaten Hong Kongers living in their country.”
The arrest warrants issued Tuesday bring the total number of people wanted to 19.
Others on the list Tuesday are: Chung Kim-wah, former senior member of independent pollster Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute; Joseph Tay, co-founder of the Canadian NGO HongKonger Station; and YouTuber Victor Ho.
Separately, on Tuesday, the Hong Kong government issued orders to cancel the passports belonging to seven “fugitives”, including ex-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 ban the seven individuals from managing funds in Hong Kong as well as activities related to joint ventures and property.
