Hong Kong police on Tuesday announced a new round of arrest warrants for six overseas-based activists – including two Canadian citizens – with a $185,000 bounty for information leading to their arrest.
According to the arrest warrants, the six are wanted for national security violations such as secession, subversion and cooperation with foreign forces. They include Tony Chung, the former leader of the now-defunct independence group Studentlocalism.
Arrest warrants were also issued for UK-based Carmen Lau, a former district councilor and current activist with the Hong Kong Democracy Council, and Chloe Cheung, an activist with the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong.
The latest round of arrest warrants suggests the Hong Kong government is targeting vocal critics abroad.
Previously, the government issued two rounds of arrest warrants and bounties against more prominent activists, including former lawmakers Ted Hui and Nathan Law.
The rising number of wanted people abroad comes as Hong Kong continues to crack down on political dissent following massive anti-government protests in 2019 that led to a wave of pro-democracy movements. Many outspoken pro-democracy activists have since been imprisoned and others have fled abroad.
Activists respond to bounties placed on their heads
Chung, the former leader of Studentlocalism, said in a story posted on Instagram that he was “honored” to be the first Hong Konger to be twice accused of violating the national security law.
“As a staunch Hong Kong nationalist, today’s wanted notice is undoubtedly a kind of confirmation for me. “I will continue to work steadfastly and fearlessly for Hong Kong’s self-determination,” he wrote.
Separately, Cheung, who lives in Britain, said in an Instagram post: “Even in the face of a powerful enemy, I will continue to do what I believe is right.”
“How fragile, 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? A million dollar bounty on my head? she asked.
Article 23, a controversial national security law in Hong Kong, has come into force. Many fear that the crackdown on dissent will further undermine civil liberties.
Lau published on
“The latest round of arrest warrants and bounties imposed by the Hong Kong government against six Hong Kong activists is a cowardly act of intimidation aimed at silencing the people of Hong Kong,” said Maya Wang, Human’s deputy China director Rights Watch.
“The six – including two Canadian citizens – live in the United Kingdom and Canada. We call on the governments of the United Kingdom and Canada to act immediately and resist the Hong Kong government’s attempts to threaten Hong Kongers living in their countries.”
Tuesday’s arrest warrants bring the total number of people wanted to 19.
Others on Tuesday’s list include: Chung Kim-wah, previously a senior member of the independent polling organization Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute; Joseph Tay, co-founder of Canada-based NGO HongKonger Station; and YouTuber Victor Ho.
Separately, the Hong Kong government on Tuesday issued orders canceling the passports of seven “fugitives,” including former lawmakers Hui and Dennis Kwok, who are wanted under the security law.
The orders were issued under Hong Kong’s domestic national security law – known as Article 23 – and also ban the seven from dealing in funds in Hong Kong, as well as activities related to joint ventures and property.
