Hong Kong Offers Bounties for 5 Activists Accused of Security Crimes

Hong Kong police on Thursday supplied HK$1 million bounties for info resulting in the seize of 5 abroad activists accused of nationwide safety crimes, including they’d be pursued “till the end”.

All 5 reside overseas after Beijing imposed a sweeping nationwide safety legislation on the monetary hub in 2020 to quash dissent after large pro-democracy protests.

Thursday’s bounties had been the second batch of hefty rewards supplied by Hong Kong police pursuing fugitives accused of nationwide safety crimes.

Chief Superintendent Steve Li Kwai-wah mentioned the 5 individuals had been suspected of incitement to secession, incitement to subversion, and international collusion — crimes that may carry sentences of as much as life in jail.

“All of them, who have already fled overseas, have continued to commit offences under the national security law that seriously endanger national security,” Li mentioned at a press convention.

He mentioned they “betrayed their country, betrayed Hong Kong, disregarded the interests of Hong Kong people, and continue to endanger national security even when abroad”.

Among them was distinguished activist Simon Cheng, who’s at present in Britain and the founder of civil society group Hongkongers in Britain.

The different 4 named had been Frances Hui, Joey Siu, Fok Ka-chi and Choi Ming-da.

“We have placed bounties of HK$1,000,000 ($128,000) on each of them,” Li mentioned, including that Hong Kong’s nationwide safety police would “pursue them till the end”.

In response, Cheng wrote on social media that it was a “lifelong honour” to be hunted by the authorities.

“If the government deems the quest for democracy and freedom a crime, we embrace the charges to reveal the genuine face of social justice,” he mentioned.

Mark Sabah of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation — the place Hui works — mentioned the Washington-based group would proceed to help the activist.

“(Hui) has worked tirelessly in the United States to punish those responsible for the crackdown on civil liberties in Hong Kong,” Sabah mentioned.

The nationwide safety legislation — which has reshaped Hong Kong society and busted down the authorized firewall that after existed between the town and mainland China — claims the ability to carry accused individuals the world over accountable.

Hong Kong authorities haven’t specified how enforcement overseas is feasible, nonetheless.

In July, eight distinguished activists additionally abroad — together with pro-democracy lawmakers Nathan Law and Ted Hui — had been named as targets for the police, which supplied bounties of HK$1 million every for info resulting in their seize.

Police on Thursday introduced they’d arrested two males and two ladies, aged between 29 and 68, in Hong Kong for “providing pecuniary assistance” to Law and Hui.

Those individuals had been suspected of paying sums as much as HK$120,000 to the duo on on-line subscription-based content material platforms, Li mentioned, with out naming the positioning.

At least 30 individuals in Hong Kong had already been questioned by police over their alleged ties to the eight activists.

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City chief John Lee — who has been sanctioned by the United States for his position as safety chief in the course of the 2019 pro-democracy protests — had mentioned the needed activists can be “pursued for life” and known as on them to give up.

The United States, Australia and Britain — nations the place some of the accused activists now reside — had earlier condemned the bounties.

(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – AFP)