Australia, UK, US condemn Hong Kong bounty for exiled activists

Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States have expressed strong disapproval of the Hong Kong police’s recent actions, offering arrest warrants and bounties for eight exiled pro-democracy activists.

The Hong Kong police announced a reward of 1 million Hong Kong dollars ($127,600) on Monday for any information leading to the capture of these activists, who are currently living overseas.

The move has sparked widespread concern among the international community, with the US State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, stating that the extraterritorial application of Beijing’s imposed National Security Law sets a dangerous precedent that threatens human rights and fundamental freedoms globally.

The Hong Kong police accuse the eight individuals, which include three former legislators, of “collusion with foreign forces” under the National Security Law, implemented by Beijing in 2020. The police further alleged that these activists have committed serious crimes endangering national security, advocated sanctions, undermined Hong Kong, and intimidated its officials, as well as scheming to undermine the territory’s financial status through foreign countries.

Among the exiled activists is Nathan Law, the youngest person ever elected to Hong Kong’s legislature, who spoke to the BBC, expressing that he now has to exercise extreme caution due to the arrest warrants.

Critics of Beijing have raised alarms over the suspected existence of Chinese police stations operating in democratic countries in Europe and North America. China, however, claims that these stations serve as “service centers” to assist Chinese citizens with administrative tasks like passport renewal.

The UK Foreign Minister, James Cleverly, characterized the arrest warrants as yet another example of China’s authoritarian reach with its extraterritorial law.

The National Security Law, with its broadly-worded provisions criminalizing activities deemed to be secession, subversion, and collusion with foreign forces, was introduced after the territory witnessed mass protests in support of democracy in 2019, some of which turned violent.

Notably, media tycoon Jimmy Lai, one of the most high-profile targets of the National Security Law, was arrested shortly after the law’s introduction. He was later sentenced to five years in prison in December 2022 for fraud over an office lease. Lai is also set to face trial on security law charges in September, although it was delayed due to the presence of a UK-based lawyer on his defense team. His popular media outlet, Apple Daily, ceased publication in June 2021.

Reacting to the situation, Australia’s Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, expressed deep disappointment at the issuance of the arrest warrants, particularly since two of the exiled activists, former legislator Ted Hui, and lawyer Kevin Yam, are residing in Australia. Wong voiced concerns over the broad application of the National Security Law to target pro-democracy figures and civil society.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called for the immediate dropping of charges and bounties, with HRW’s associate Asia director, Maya Wang, asserting that the Hong Kong government’s actions aim to persecute peaceful dissent both within and outside the territory. Wang further characterized the cross-border bounty offer as an attempt to intimidate activists and elected representatives who speak up against Beijing’s growing repression.

One of the activists on the list, Anna Kwok, currently residing in the US, expressed gratitude to those who have highlighted the “transnational repression and the National Security Law’s extraterritorial application displayed by the Hong Kong government today” via Twitter.

In response to the international outcry, Chief Executive John Lee of Hong Kong brushed off criticism and asserted that the eight exiled activists would be “pursued for life.” He called on them to surrender themselves as soon as possible, according to Reuters