Police slap bounties on 19 members of ‘subversive' group ‘Hong Kong Parliament'
Advertisement
The arrest warrants announced on Friday were for Elmer Yuan Gong-yi, Victor Ho Leung-mau, Fok Ka-chi, Choi Ming-da, Chan Lai-chun, Feng Chongyi, Sasha Gong, Ng Man-yan, and Tsang Wai-fan, who were accused of establishing the so-called
parliament-in-exile in 2022
That year, the group, mainly founded and run by self-exiled activists, formed an 'electoral committee' in Canada to hold elections that it said 'represents, solidifies and revives Hong Kong people's rights of self-determination'.
In May this year, the group said 15,702 votes were cast to elect 15 members for its first 'parliament' and a 'virtual swearing-in ceremony' was held on July 14.
Another 10 people were accused by Hong Kong national security police of taking part in the election and swearing in as so-called parliament members, namely Chin Po-fun, Ha Hoi-chun, Hau Chung-yu, Ho Wing-yau, Keung Ka-wai, Tony Lam, Agnes Ng, Wong Chun-wah, Wong Sau-wo, and Zhang Xinyan.
The group, which includes businessman and opposition activist Elmer Yuan, held an unlawful 'election' and 'virtual swearing-in ceremony' for a so-called parliament-in-exile earlier this month. Photo: Facebook
The government had previously placed bounties of HK$1 million each on Yuan, Ho, Fok, and Choi. A bounty of HK$200,000 was placed on each of the remaining 15 activists listed in the latest announcement.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
4 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Ex-chairman of Hong Kong-listed Neo-China surrenders after 13 years on the run
A former top executive of a Hong Kong-listed company surrendered to the city's anti-corruption agency on Tuesday after more than a decade on the run. Advertisement Li Songxiao, the former chairman of Neo-China Group (Holdings), now known as Shanghai Industrial Urban Development Group (SIUD), handed himself over to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) over his involvement in fraudulent property deals worth more than HK$330 million (US$42 million). Li had allegedly conspired with two then senior executives, Che Hanshu and Zhang Yaohui, to defraud shareholders and the Hong Kong stock exchange, by inflating the profit and assets of the developers through fraudulent transactions, according to a statement from ICAC. Warrants for the trio were issued in February 2011 by a magistrate, but by that time they had already left Hong Kong, ICAC said. Li, Che and Zhang had conspired with the company's secretary and financial controller to defraud shareholders between November 2003 and July 2007, it added. Li, 59, faces two common law charges of conspiracy to defraud. He is scheduled to appear at Eastern Magistrates' Courts for a mention hearing on Wednesday. Advertisement The charges centre on two property deals in which Neo-China allegedly misled investors – one involving the HK$210 million purchase of Top Fair, and another concerning the HK$123 million sale of its subsidiary, Noble Time Development, to Northwest Link.
South China Morning Post
5 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
China convicts crypto money launderers who embezzled US$20 million from Beijing tech firm
Chinese official media reported details of a crackdown on a money-laundering operation involving cryptocurrencies , shedding light on the mainland's underground crypto landscape and increased efforts by authorities to seize crypto assets. According to a report last week by the People's Daily, which cited the Beijing Haidian People's Procuratorate's ruling, a former executive surnamed Feng embezzled 140 million yuan (US$19.5 million) from his employer, a tech firm. He then used eight overseas virtual currency trading platforms to convert the funds into bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Feng and his accomplices employed a so-called coin mixing strategy to obscure the origin of their money, converted portions of their cryptocurrencies back into yuan, and then transferred the funds into their mainland bank accounts. During the investigation, prosecutor Li Tao from the hi-tech crime division of the Haidian People's Procuratorate, reconstructed the entire process of how the funds were embezzled, transferred, laundered, and divided to build charges against Feng and his associates, according to the report. Feng was ordered to surrender 90 'hidden' bitcoin valued at over US$11 million based on current prices. He was convicted and sentenced to more than 14 years in prison. The case highlighted the rising use of cryptocurrencies for money laundering in China, where authorities maintain a stringent ban on crypto trading and prohibit its banking system from engaging with these virtual assets.
South China Morning Post
5 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Modi's visit, Indian aid pledge reshape Maldives ties as China wavers
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi 's recent visit to the Maldives is being viewed as a symbolic yet strategic reset in bilateral ties, signalling New Delhi's renewed engagement with its island neighbour amid waning Chinese investment and mounting economic distress in Male. Modi's two-day trip, which coincided with the Maldives' 60th Independence Day celebrations, marked his first visit since President Mohamed Muizzu took office in late 2023 following an election campaign built on a combative 'India Out' platform. Aditya Gowdara Shivamurthy, an associate fellow at the Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation's strategic studies programme, said Modi's visit was successful for two key reasons – to show that Indian influence remained unchallenged in the Maldives, and to aid the local government amid the country's economic struggles. The pledge of assistance underscored India 's willingness, commitment and interest to support the Maldives when others were hesitating, Shivamurthy told This Week in Asia. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (centre) plants a tree sapling during his state visit in Male on July 25 as the Maldives' President Mohamed Muizzu looks on. Photo: AFP During the visit, Modi announced a US$565 million credit line and launched free-trade talks with the Maldives. India also announced a reduction in repayments of an earlier credit line from US$51 million to US$29 million annually. 'Whatever the weather may be … our friendship will always remain bright and clear. India will continue to support the development of the Maldives' defence capabilities,' Modi said during a joint press conference, while Muizzu reflected on the successes of the shared developmental journey between the two countries.
