Hong Kong police target 8 pro-democracy activists living abroad, including in Canada – National | 24CA News
Hong Kong police on Monday accused eight self-exiled pro-democracy activists of violating the territory’s harsh National Security Law and supplied rewards of 1 million Hong Kong {dollars} ($127,600) every for info resulting in their arrests.
The rewards are the primary for suspects accused of violating the Beijing-imposed laws because it took impact in June 2020. It outlaws subversion, secession, collusion with overseas forces and terrorism.
The eight activists are former pro-democracy lawmakers Nathan Law, Ted Hui and Dennis Kwok, lawyer Kevin Yam, unionist Mung Siu-tat and activists Finn Lau, Anna Kwok and Elmer Yuen, police introduced at a news convention.
They are presently residing within the U.S., Britain, Canada and Australia after some have been earlier accused of varied different offenses.
Steven Li, chief superintendent of the police’s National Security Department, stated arrest warrants have been issued for the eight beneath the National Security Law. He acknowledged that police will be unable to arrest them if they continue to be abroad however urged them to return to Hong Kong and give up for a discount of their sentences.
Li stated the brand new costs and rewards usually are not meant to unfold concern however are merely “enforcing the law.”
He cited articles of the safety regulation which state that police have extraterritorial jurisdiction, and stated they might pursue folks abroad who endanger Hong Kong’s nationwide safety.
The news convention got here lower than two weeks after the state-owned Ta Kung Pao newspaper issued an editorial stating that the National Security Law applies to folks outdoors Hong Kong, and that China, as a member of Interpol, may request help from different international locations in arresting fugitives.
Hong Kong, a semi-autonomous Chinese metropolis, has come beneath more and more tight scrutiny by Beijing following months of political strife in 2019. Authorities have cracked down on dissent with over 260 folks, together with many pro-democracy figures, arrested beneath the National Security Law.
Hong Kong’s political system has additionally undergone a significant overhaul to make sure that solely “patriots” loyal to Beijing can maintain workplace.
The police drive stated it has proof that the eight violated the National Security Law.
According to the warrants, lawyer Yam, former legislator Dennis Kwok and activists Yuen, Lau and Anna Kwok are accused of overseas collusion for allegedly calling for sanctions in opposition to Hong Kong officers.
Former lawmaker Hui is accused of inciting secession, subversion and overseas collusion for allegedly calling for Hong Kong and Taiwan’s independence on social media, in addition to for sanctions in opposition to metropolis officers.
Law, who’s presently residing in Britain, can be accused of overseas collusion and inciting secession for allegedly calling for sanctions and the town’s separation from China in conferences with overseas officers and in open letters, petitions, social media posts and media interviews.
Unionist Mung is accused of inciting secession for allegedly advocating Hong Kong’s separation from the mainland.
Law stated the brand new costs are an try to suppress dissident voices.
“I ask Hongkongers not to cooperate with any related pursuit or bounty actions. We should not limit ourselves, self-censor, be intimidated, or live in fear,” he tweeted.
Britain’s Foreign Secretary James Cleverly stated the U.Okay. “will not tolerate any attempts by China to intimidate and silence individuals in the U.K. and overseas.”
“We call on Beijing to remove the National Security Law and for the Hong Kong authorities to end their targeting of those who stand up for freedom and democracy,” Cleverly stated in a press release.
© 2023 The Canadian Press
