Hong Kong police on Tuesday announced a new round of arrest warrants for six overseas activists — including two Canadian citizens — with a $185,000 reward for information leading to their arrest.
According to the warrant, six people are wanted for national security offenses of secession, sedition and collusion with foreign forces. They include Tony Chung, former leader of the current pro-independence group StudentLocalism.
British-based Carmen Lau, a former district councilor and current activist of the Hong Kong Democracy Council, as well as Chloe Cheung, an activist of the Hong Kong Independence Committee, were also issued warrants against them.
The latest round of warrants marks the Hong Kong government's targeting of vocal critics overseas.
The government had earlier issued two rounds of arrest warrants and rewards for key activists, including former MPs Ted Hui and Nathan Law.
A growing number of people wanted abroad have come as Hong Kong continues to clamp down on political dissent following massive anti-government protests in 2019 that resulted in a wave of pro-democracy protests. Many pro-democracy activists have been jailed, others have fled abroad.
Hong Kong police on Tuesday issued arrest warrants for six foreign activists, including two Canadian citizens, and offered a $185,000 reward for information leading to their arrest. Cheuk Kwan of the Toronto Association for Democracy in China discusses how this is affecting his community and how Canada should respond.
Activists react to gifts placed on their heads
Chung, a former student localism leader, said in a story posted on Instagram that he was “honoured” to be the first Hong Konger to be accused of violating national security laws twice.
“As a staunch Hong Kong nationalist, today's wanted notice is undoubtedly a confirmation of sorts for me. In the future, I will continue to steadfastly and fearlessly promote Hong Kong's self-determination,” he wrote.
Separately, Cheung, who is based in the UK, said in an Instagram post, “Even in the face of a powerful enemy, I will continue to stand for what is right.”
“How weak, incompetent and cowardly does a regime have to be to believe that I, a 19-year-old, ordinary Hong Konger, can 'endanger' and 'divide' the country? How scared they are that they can 'divide' the country. Millions of dollars reward for me ?” she asked.
Section 23 of the controversial National Security Law has come into effect in Hong Kong. Many fear that a crackdown on dissent will further erode civil liberties.
Lau called on governments including the UK, US, and EU countries in X to “sanction Hong Kong's human rights criminals without further delay” and urged democrats to support Hong Kong's right to self-determination.
“The Hong Kong government's latest round of arrest warrants and awards against six Hong Kong activists is a cowardly act of intimidation aimed at silencing the people of Hong Kong,” said Maya Wang, China associate director at Human Rights Watch.
“Six – including two Canadian citizens – live in the UK and Canada. We call on the UK and Canadian governments to take immediate action against the Hong Kong government's attempts to intimidate Hong Kong residents living in their country.”
Tuesday's arrest warrants bring the total number of people wanted to 19.
Others on Tuesday's list are: Chung Kim-wah, formerly a senior fellow at the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute, an independent polling organization; Joseph Tay, co-founder of Canada-based NGO HongKonger Station; and YouTuber Victor Ho.
Separately on Tuesday, the Hong Kong government issued an order revoking the passports of seven “fugitives”, including former MPs Hui and Dennis Kwok, who are wanted under security laws.
The orders were made under Hong Kong's domestic national security law – known as Article 23 – and prohibit the seven from holding funds in Hong Kong, as well as activities related to joint ventures and assets.
