Hong Kong gives rewards for arrest of six activists in another country

Getty ImagesTony Chung, who fled Hong Kong closing 12 months and is these days in the United Kingdom, is amongst the ones being sought by way of policeHong Kong police have presented rewards of HK$1m (£103,000; $129,000) for info resulting in the arrests of six pro-democracy activists dwelling in the United Kingdom and Canada.Amongst them is Tony Chung, the previous chief of a pro-independence staff who fled to the United Kingdom closing 12 months.The gang – which incorporates a former district councillor, an actor, and a YouTuber – were lobbying for extra democracy within the territory. All were accused of violating town’s nationwide safety regulation.UK International Secretary David Lammy criticised the transfer, calling on Hong Kong government to “finish their concentrated on of people in the United Kingdom and in other places who get up for freedom and democracy”.”We will be able to no longer tolerate any makes an attempt by way of overseas governments to coerce, intimidate, harass or hurt their critics in another country, particularly in the United Kingdom,” he mentioned, including that the United Kingdom authorities was once dedicated to supporting the ones from Hong Kong who’ve relocated to the United Kingdom.Additionally at the sought after checklist is former district councillor Carmen Lau and activist Chloe Cheung. Each are primarily based in the United Kingdom and foyer on behalf of 2 NGOs calling for extra democracy in Hong Kong.Arrest warrants had been additionally issued for political commentator and pollster Chung Kim-wah, who left Hong Kong for the United Kingdom in 2022, in addition to two other people primarily based in Canada: former actor Joseph Tay, who co-founded the NGO HongKonger Station, and Youtuber Victor Ho.Mr Ho has been charged with subversion whilst the opposite six were accused inciting secession and collusion with a overseas nation or exterior forces.In line with Hong Kong’s public broadcaster RTHK, the arrest warrants had been introduced by way of town’s best police chiefs on Tuesday, who accused one of the crucial sought after activists of many times inquiring for overseas international locations to impose sanctions and different measures towards China and Hong Kong.Mr Chung was once first convicted in 2021 for calling for Hong Kong’s secession and was once launched in June closing 12 months.He posted on Instagram on Tuesday that it was once “an honour to develop into the primary Hongkonger to be charged two times beneath the Nationwide Safety Legislation”.Mr Chung mentioned the scoop got here as no marvel to him as he breached a supervision order after his unlock from jail by way of fleeing to the United Kingdom closing 12 months.”I knew at the moment would come. From the instant I determined to go away Hong Kong, I used to be absolutely mindful that I’d no longer be capable to go back for a very long time,” he wrote.Mr Chung showed to the BBC that he was once nonetheless looking forward to his asylum utility to be licensed by way of the United Kingdom authorities.Getty ImagesCarmen Lau may be primarily based in the United Kingdom and has been calling for extra democracy in Hong KongMs Lau posted on X that the warrant would no longer prevent her advocacy paintings. She referred to as on the United Kingdom, US and EU governments to impose sanctions on “Hong Kong human rights perpetrators”.She additionally requested the British Labour authorities to “severely rethink its methods for tackling transnational repression concentrated on Hong Kongers” and to have a look at blocking off plans for a brand new Chinese language embassy in Tower Hill.Previous this month, Tower Hamlets councillors voted unanimously to reject the plans. Alternatively, the decision is most effective advisory and no longer binding and it’ll be as much as Deputy High Minister and Communities Secretary Angela Rayner to make a decision whether or not to grant permission or no longer.That is the 3rd spherical of arrest warrants and bounties issued because the Beijing-imposed Nationwide Safety Legislation was once imposed.The primary two rounds had been issued in July and December closing 12 months, and centered former lawmaker Nathan Legislation – who informed the BBC closing 12 months that his lifestyles has develop into extra unhealthy because the bounty was once introduced – and Simon Cheng, a former UK consulate worker detained in 2019 in a high-profile case. Each males are actually primarily based in the United Kingdom.China’s overseas ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning sponsored the transfer on Tuesday, pronouncing the Chinese language authorities supported Hong Kong “appearing its tasks according to the regulation”, She added that Hong Kong was once “a society ruled by way of the guideline of regulation and nobody has extrajudicial privileges”.Hong Kong’s debatable Nationwide Safety Legislation was once imposed in 2020 in line with the 2019 anti-government protests that rocked town for months.Beijing and Hong Kong government argue the regulation is vital to take care of steadiness and deny it has weakened autonomy, however critics argue it has lowered town’s autonomy and made a much broader vary of dissenting acts unlawful.

Author: OpenAI