Hong Kong police announced rewards for information leading to the arrest of 19 overseas-based activists for their roles in what they called a subversive organisation abroad, accusing them of violating a national security law imposed by Beijing.
Police said in a statement Friday that the group, Hong Kong Parliament, aimed to promote self-determination and establish a so-called “Hong Kong constitution,” alleging it was using illegal means to overthrow and undermine China’s fundamental system or overthrow the institutions in power in the city or China.
On request by the police, the city’s court issued arrest warrants for activists Elmer Yuen, Johnny Fok, Tony Choi, Victor Ho, Keung Ka-wai and 14 others. They are alleged to have organised or participated in an election abroad for the Hong Kong Parliament, as well as setting up or becoming members of the group.
According to a Facebook statement by the group on 30 June, its election drew some 15,700 valid votes through mobile app and online voting systems. It said the candidates and elected members came from various regions, including Taiwan, Thailand, Australia, the US, Canada and Britain.
On Friday, the UK condemned the Hong Kong authorities for offering rewards in exchange for assisting in the arrest of these activists. “The Hong Kong Police Force’s issuing of further arrest warrants and bounties on individuals living in the UK is another example of transnational repression,” Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said in a joint statement.
While the group calls itself Hong Kong Parliament, its electoral organising committee was founded in Canada and its influence is limited.
Among the 19 activists, police have already offered 1 million Hong Kong dollars ($127,400) for information leading to the arrest of Yuen, Ho, Fok and Choi when previous arrest warrants were issued against them. For the remaining 15 people, rewards of 200,000 Hong Kong dollars ($25,480) were offered, urging residents to provide information about the case or the people.
“The investigation is still ongoing. If necessary, police will offer bounties to hunt down more suspects in the case,” police said.
They also called on those wanted to stop their actions while they still can, saying that they hoped the activists “will take this opportunity to return to Hong Kong and turn themselves in, rather than making more mistakes.”
Over the past two years, Hong Kong authorities have issued arrest warrants for various activists based overseas, including former pro-democracy lawmakers Nathan Law and Ted Hui. They also canceled the passports of some of them under a recent security law introduced to the city last year.
The moves against overseas-based activists have drawn criticism from foreign governments, especially given the former British colony was promised that its Western-style civil liberties and semi-autonomy would be kept intact for at least 50 years when it returned to Chinese rule in 1997.
In March, the United States sanctioned six Chinese and Hong Kong officials who it alleged were involved in “transnational repression” and acts that threaten to further erode the city’s autonomy.
But Beijing and Hong Kong insist the national security laws were necessary for the city’s stability. Hong Kong police have maintained that the Beijing-imposed law applies to permanent residents in Hong Kong who violate it abroad.
In retaliation to the U.S. move, China in April said it would sanction U.S. officials, lawmakers and leaders of non-governmental organisations who it says have “performed poorly” on Hong Kong issues.
