This raises the number of fugitives wanted to 13 as the government also arrests 4 others on charges of secession. Hong Kong’s National Security Law claims the power to hold accused people accountable around the world.
Hong Kong’s national security police have placed new HK$1 million (US$128,108) bounties on five more overseas activists accused of violating the city’s national security law. The latest additions raise the number of awards offered for information leading to the arrest of fugitives wanted in such cases to 13.
The five activists named in the arrest warrants issued on Thursday include Johnny Fok Ka-Chi, Joey Siu, Tony Choi Ming-da, Simon Chang Man-Kit, and Frances Hui Wing-Tin.
A superintendent from Hong Kong’s National Security Department claims the five are wanted for inciting secession, colluding with foreign or external forces to endanger national security, and inciting subversion of state power.
This is in addition to the claim that Fok and Choi posted videos online calling on people to join foreign military forces in order to overthrow the Hong Kong government. It’s alleged that Fok and Choi also claimed they could help young criminals escape the city during the 2019 protests, resulting in victims and their families being scammed out of hundreds of thousands of Hong Kong dollars.
National Security police also arrested two women and two men in the city on charges of “funding others of secession.” It’s claimed that the quartet provided financial assistance to exiled activists Nathan Law Kwun-chung and Ted Hui Chi-fung between December, 2020 and November, 2023.
Joey Siu, one of the newly accused fugitives, responded to the charges on Twitter, writing, “This morning, I, a U.S. citizen, woke up to the news that an arrest warrant and a HKD1$ million bounty have been placed on my head by the Hong Kong govt. for exercising my freedoms in my own country. More to say later, but for now: I will never be silenced, I will never back down.”
Cheng, writing from the United Kingdom, said on social media: “If the government deems the quest for democracy and freedom a crime, we embrace the charges to reveal the genuine face of social justice.”
The U.S. said it condemned the move, while Great Britain called it “a threat to our democracy and fundamental human rights.”
Meanwhile, a Hong Kong government spokesperson claims it will take all measures necessary, in accordance with the law, to bring the fugitives to justice.
In related news, following activist Agnes Chow Ting’s recent announcement on social media that she is studying in Canada and is unlikely to ever return to the city, a superintendent from the National Security Department said she had yet to break the law as her time to report to the police isn’t due yet. However, if she doesn’t return, the police force will treat her as a fugitive.
Chow was previously arrested by national security police in 2020 on charges of colluding with foreign forces to endanger national security. She was later released on police bail and her travel documents were surrendered.
Hong Kong’s National Security Law, newly enacted in the wake of 2019’s citywide protests, claims the power to hold accused people accountable around the world.
