Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee (李家超) yesterday called on eight overseas activists to turn themselves in, a day after police put out bounties on them for violating the territory’s National Security Law.
Police offered rewards of HK$1 million (US$127,701) each for information leading to the arrests of eight prominent democracy activists based abroad, accusing them of crimes such as subversion and colluding with foreign forces.
Lee said he supported the police action and called on the activists to surrender themselves.
Photo: AFP
“The only way to end their destiny of being an abscondee who will be pursued for life is to surrender,” Lee told reporters, adding that they would otherwise “spend their days in fear.”
All eight fled Hong Kong after Beijing imposed the sweeping National Security Law on the territory in 2020 to quell dissent after huge pro-democracy protests in 2019 were quashed.
Lee called on the public to assist police, and said even the activists’ relatives and friends could become informants.
The offer has been criticized by the US, the UK and Australia, countries where the wanted activists reportedly reside.
US Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller condemned the bounties as part of China’s “transnational repression efforts” and called for their withdrawal.
“The extraterritorial application of the Beijing-imposed National Security Law is a dangerous precedent that threatens the human rights and fundamental freedoms of people all over the world,” he said.
Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Penny Wong (黃英賢) said that her government was “deeply disappointed” by the bounties.
“We have consistently expressed concerns about the broad application of the National Security Law to arrest or pressure pro-democracy figures and civil society,” Wong said yesterday.
Australia would steadfastly support freedom of expression, she said later.
Britain would “not tolerate any attempts by China to intimidate and silence individuals in the UK and overseas,” British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs James Cleverly said.
“The UK will always defend the universal right to freedom of expression and stand up for those who are targeted,” he said.
The Chinese embassy in London said after Cleverly’s statement that the UK had interfered with China’s internal affairs by “openly [offering] protection for fugitives.”
“This is crude interference in Hong Kong’s rule of law and China’s internal affairs,” it said. “China expresses strong dissatisfaction and firmly opposes this.”
Lee, asked about the criticism abroad, said the territory was not unique in having a national security law that was enforceable internationally.
“I’m not afraid of any political pressure that is put on us because we do what we believe is right,” Lee said.
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