Hong Kong authorities yesterday strengthened a crackdown on 16 overseas-based activists who were previously targeted by bounties on suspicion of endangering national security, implementing measures that include banning financial support to them and canceling most of their passports.
The activists were among 19 people who were targeted with arrest warrants last month for alleged roles in Hong Kong Parliament, a group the police called a subversive organization abroad.
Three of the original 19 activists were already targeted by similar measures last year.
Photo: AP
Hong Kong Secretary for Security Chris Tang (鄧炳強) banned providing funds or economic resources to the 16 activists, including Victor Ho (何良懋), Australian academic Feng Chongyi (馮崇義) and US citizen Sasha Gong (龔小夏), the Hong Kong Government said in a statement.
Travel documents were canceled for 12 of the 16 who hold Hong Kong passports.
The government also prohibited properties from being leased to the people on the list or forming joint ventures with them. Anyone contravening the orders risks a penalty of up to seven years in prison.
The 16 activists are hiding in the UK, the US, Canada, Germany, Australia, Thailand and Taiwan, among other regions, the government said, accusing them of continuing to engage in activities endangering national security.
The notice also accused them of intending to incite hatred against Beijing and Hong Kong through smear and slander.
“We therefore have taken such measures to make a significant impact,” the statement said.
Beijing imposed a national security law on the territory in 2020 that has effectively wiped out most public dissent following huge anti-government protests in 2019. Many activists were arrested, silenced or forced into self-exile.
The measures announced yesterday were issued under the powers granted by Hong Kong’s homegrown national security law enacted last year.
The arrest warrants issued last month have drawn criticism from foreign governments.
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