Activist bounties, passport cancellations slammed by UK, US, EU, Canada, as Hong Kong gov’t condemns ‘slander’
Hong Kong Free Press
The Hong Kong government has condemned “slanderous remarks” by the US, UK, Canada, the European Union (EU) and “anti-China organisations,” after they criticised a new round of national security arrest warrants, bounties and the cancellation of passports as “transnational repression.”
Hong Kong authorities on Wednesday defended its move to cancel the passports of seven “fugitive” activists under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. It was necessary to “make a strong blow” against the “abscondees,” who continued to engage in activities endangering national security while “hiding” abroad, the government said.
“Foreign government officials and politicians, as well as anti-China organisations, deliberately smeared and spread irresponsible remarks on the measures and actions taken by the HKSAR Government in accordance with the law in an attempt to mislead the public,” a government press release read.
On Christmas Eve, Hong Kong’s security minister Chris Tang invoked his powers under the domestic security law and imposed a series of special orders against seven Hongkongers in exile. They included ex-lawmakers Ted Hui and Dennis Kwok, lawyer Kevin Yam, businessman-turned-activist Elmer Yuen and activists Anna Kwok, Frances Hui and Joey Siu. Each of them has a HK$1 million bounty on their head over alleged national security offences.
The orders included cancelling their HKSAR passports and prohibiting the seven individuals, whom Tang declared as “absconders” in a separate notice on Tuesday, from dealing with funds in Hong Kong. The local professional licenses of lawyers Dennis Kwok and Kevin Yam were also suspended. Yam said on social media that he was not a Hong Kong passport holder.
On the same day, Hong Kong authorities issued a fresh round of arrest warrants for six people living overseas. They included activists Tony Chung, Chloe Cheung, former district councillor Carmen Lau, ex-pollster Chung Kim-wah, ex-TVB actor Joseph Tay who co-founded the Canada-based NGO HongKonger Station and YouTuber Victor Ho.
A reward of HK$1 million had been offered for information leading to their arrests.
US
On Thursday, the US condemned the new arrest warrants and bounties targeting six overseas activists, as well as the cancellation of passports for seven other individuals. The Hong Kong government should stop using its national security laws to “silent dissent,” a spokesperson for the Department of State said.
The extraterritorial application of Hong Kong’s national security laws was a form of “transnational repression,” which threatened US sovereignty and the human rights and fundamental freedoms of people around the world, the department said.
“We reject the Hong Kong government’s efforts to intimidate and silence individuals who choose to make the United States their home. The United States does not waver in its advocacy for those who are targeted simply for exercising their right to freedom of expression,” the statement read.
UK
The UK said on Tuesday that the Hong Kong police targeted people for exercising their right to freedom of expression, including British National Overseas (BNO) passport holders living in the UK.
Foreign secretary David Lammy called on Beijing to repeal the national security law and urged the 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 overseas, especially in the UK,” Lammy’s statement read.
The minister added that the UK government was “deeply committed” to supporting Hongkongers who relocated to the UK and “made valuable contributions to life” in the country. Ensuring their continued safety remained a priority, he said.
Canada
In a statement released on Tuesday, Canada said it “deplored” the decision by the Hong Kong authorities to issue international bounties and cancel the passports of democracy activists. The individuals targeted included Canadians and people “with close ties” to the country, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly said.
She went on to say that the activists were targeted for actions that amounted to “nothing more than the exercise of freedom of speech.” She also reiterated Canada’s previous calls to repeal the Beijing-imposed security law and withdraw all related warrants and bounties.
“This attempt by Hong Kong authorities to conduct transnational repression abroad, including by issuing threats, intimidation or coercion against Canadians or those in Canada, will not be tolerated,” the statement read.
EU
The EU condemned the arrest warrants on Tuesday and said the continued extraterritorial application of the national security law “adds to our concerns and hurts the city’s attractiveness as an international business hub.”
“The EU urges the Hong Kong authorities to stop the crackdown on pro-democracy forces and uphold fundamental freedoms as enshrined in Hong Kong’s Basic Law,” Anouar El Anouni, EU’s spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy wrote on X.
Separate to the 2020 Beijing-enacted security law, the homegrown Safeguarding National Security Ordinance targets treason, insurrection, sabotage, external interference, sedition, theft of state secrets and espionage. It allows for pre-charge detention of to up to 16 days, and suspects’ access to lawyers may be restricted, with penalties involving up to life in prison. Article 23 was shelved in 2003 amid mass protests, remaining taboo for years. But, on March 23, 2024, it was enacted having been fast-tracked and unanimously approved at the city’s opposition-free legislature.
The law has been criticised by rights NGOs, Western states and the UN as vague, broad and “regressive.” Authorities, however, cited perceived foreign interference and a constitutional duty to “close loopholes” after the 2019 protests and unrest.
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