Hong Kong affords rewards for arrest of six abroad activists

Hong Kong police have provided rewards of 1 million Hong Kong {dollars} (£103,000; $129,000) for info resulting in the arrest of six pro-democracy activists residing within the UK and Canada .

Amongst them is Tony Chung, the previous chief of an independence group who fled to the UK last year.

The group – which features a former district councilor, an actor and a YouTuber – is pushing for extra democracy within the territory. All had been accused of violating the town’s nationwide safety legislation.

Human Rights Watch mentioned the arrest warrants had been “a cowardly act of intimidation aimed toward silencing the individuals of Hong Kong” and known as on the British and Canadian governments to reply.

Former district councilor Carmen Lau and activist Chloe Cheung are additionally on the wished listing. Each are based mostly within the UK and foyer on behalf of two NGOs calling for extra democracy in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong police have issued arrest warrants for political commentator and pollster Chung Kim-wah, who left Hong Kong for the UK in 2022, in addition to two people based mostly in Canada: former actor Joseph Tay, co-founder of the NGO HongKonger Station. , and YouTuber Victor Ho.

Mr. Ho was charged with subversion whereas the opposite six had been charged with inciting secession and collusion with a international nation or exterior forces.

In keeping with Hong Kong public broadcaster RTHK, the arrest warrants had been introduced Tuesday by the town’s prime police chiefs, who accused a number of the wished activists of repeatedly asking international nations to impose sanctions and different measures towards China and Hong Kong.

Mr Chung was first convicted in 2021 for calling for Hong Kong to secede and was launched in June final 12 months.

He posted on Instagram on Tuesday that it was “an honor to grow to be the primary Hong Konger to be charged twice below the nationwide safety legislation.”

Mr Chung mentioned the information didn’t shock him, as he had breached a supervision order after his launch from jail by fleeing to the UK final 12 months.

“I knew this present day would come. From the second I made a decision to depart Hong Kong, I used to be totally conscious that I might not have the ability to return for a very long time,” he wrote.

Ms. Lau posted on X that the mandate wouldn’t cease her advocacy work. She known as on the governments of the UK, america and the European Union to impose sanctions on “perpetrators of human rights violations in Hong Kong.”

She additionally known as on the British Labor authorities to noticeably rethink its methods to fight transnational repression concentrating on Hong Kongers and contemplate blocking the enlargement of the Chinese language embassy at Tower Hill.

Earlier this month, Tower Hamlets councilors voted unanimously to reject plans for new Chinese embassy. Nonetheless, the decision is just advisory and never binding and will probably be as much as Deputy First Minister and Communities Secretary Angela Rayner to determine whether or not or to not grant permission.

That is the third spherical of arrest warrants and bounties issued because the imposition of Beijing’s nationwide safety legislation.

The primary two rounds had been launched in July and December final 12 months and focused former lawmaker Nathan Legislation – who instructed the BBC final 12 months that his life has become more dangerous since the announcement of the bonus – and Simon Cheng, former worker of the British consulate detained in 2019 in high-profile case. Each males are actually based mostly in the UK.

Chinese language Overseas Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning supported the transfer Tuesday, saying the Chinese language authorities helps Hong Kong “in finishing up its duties in accordance with legislation.”

She added that Hong Kong is “a society ruled by the rule of legislation and nobody enjoys extrajudicial privileges.”

Hong Kong’s controversial nationwide safety legislation has been imposed in 2020 in response to the 2019 anti-government protests that rocked the town for months.

Authorities in Beijing and Hong Kong argue that the legislation is critical to keep up stability and deny that it has weakened autonomy, however critics argue that it has diminished the town’s autonomy and made unlawful extra variety of acts of dissent.