The US and the UK have condemned the transfer as Hong Kong authorities increase crackdown below nationwide safety regulation.
Police in Hong Kong have supplied bounties for info resulting in the arrest of 5 activists residing abroad, increasing a crackdown on these concerned within the metropolis’s as soon as vibrant pro-democracy protest motion below a harsh nationwide safety regulation.
Legislation enforcement authorities on Thursday supplied rewards of 1 million Hong Kong {dollars} ($128,000) for every of the 5 activists, who dwell in international locations together with the USA and the UK.
“They all betrayed their own country and betrayed Hong Kong,” Steve Li, chief superintendent of the police nationwide safety division, stated in a information convention. “After they fled overseas, they continued to engage in activities endangering national security.”
The transfer, characterised by the US and the UK as an effort to restrict democracy, added to a listing of eight activists who authorities named as fugitives in July below a nationwide safety regulation imposed by Beijing.
The 5 activists are named as Simon Cheng, Frances Hui, Joey Siu, Johnny Fok and Tony Choi. Many outstanding members of the 2019 protest motion moved overseas when the nationwide safety regulation was launched the next 12 months, anticipating harsh measures from authorities.
“This is a threat to our democracy and fundamental human rights,” UK International Secretary David Cameron stated in response to the announcement, including that he had instructed officers in Hong Kong, Beijing, and London to “raise this issue as a matter of urgency”.
Hong Kong police introduced bounties for eight activists residing overseas in July, warning that they’d be pursued for all times. None of them have but to be arrested.
In 2021, the federal government rounded up at the least 47 opposition activists, together with elected lawmakers, unionists, and teachers, accusing them of contributing to unrest and undermining nationwide safety.
Closing arguments within the trial of 16 activists, Hong Kong’s largest-ever state security trial, happened in late November. If convicted, they face the potential of life in jail.
In October, a gaggle of United Nations human rights consultants stated that the mass trials might “negatively affect safeguards that ensure due process and the right to fair trial”.
