Hong Kong issues arrest warrants for 19 overseas activists accused of subversion
HONG KONG : Hong Kong's national security police announced arrest warrants for 19 activists based overseas, accusing them of subversion under a stringent national security law, marking the largest such tally yet.
They are accused of organising or participating in the 'Hong Kong Parliament', a group that authorities in the Asian financial hub say aimed to subvert state power under the law Beijing imposed in 2020 following months of pro-democracy protests in 2019.
The activists are accused of having launched a referendum or run as candidates in the unofficial 'Hong Kong Parliament' group, which authorities say aims at achieving self-determination and drafting a 'Hong Kong constitution'.
Police, who said the organisation sought to overthrow the governments of China and Hong Kong by unlawful means, said they are still investigating and further arrests may follow.
Among those named are businessman Elmer Yuen, commentator Victor Ho, and activists Johnny Fok and Tony Choi. Four of them are subject to previous arrest warrants, each carrying a bounty of HK$1 million (US$127,000).
Among the remaining 15, for each of whom police are offering a bounty of HK$200,000 (US$25,480), are those said to have organised or run in the election and sworn in as its councillors.
None of the accused could be reached for comment.
The UK's foreign and home secretaries condemned the move in a joint statement, calling the arrests 'another example of transnational repression' and saying it damages Hong Kong's international reputation.
'(The UK) will not tolerate attempts by foreign governments to coerce, intimidate, harass or harm their critics overseas,' it said in a statement on Friday.
In response, the Chinese embassy in the UK said the British government's remarks 'constitute a gross interference' in China's internal affairs and the rule of law in Hong Kong.
'China urges the UK to abandon its colonial mentality, stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs…stop shielding criminals,' it said.
The former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with the guarantee of a high degree of autonomy, including freedom of speech, under a 'one country, two systems' formula.
Critics of the national security law say authorities are using it to stifle dissent.
Chinese and Hong Kong officials have repeatedly said the law was vital to restore stability after the city was rocked for months by sometimes violent anti-government and anti-China protests in 2019.
Police reiterated that national security offences were serious crimes with extraterritorial reach and urged the wanted individuals to return to Hong Kong and surrender.
'If offenders voluntarily give up continuing to violate the crime, turn themselves in, truthfully confess their crimes, or provide key information that helps solve other cases, they may be eligible for reduced punishment,' they said in a statement.
Police also warned that aiding, abetting, or funding others to participate in the 'Hong Kong Parliament' could be a criminal offence.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
3 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Zetrix AI allowed to continue providing immigration-related services
Zetrix AI Bhd, formerly MyEG Services Bhd, said it received a letter from the home ministry confirming that it could continue to offer immigration-related services. (Website pic) PETALING JAYA : Zetrix AI Bhd, formerly known as MyEG Services Bhd, has been allowed to continue providing immigration-related services despite the immediate termination of its agreement with the immigration department. In a bourse filing, Zetrix AI said it received a letter from the home ministry today clarifying that the company could continue to offer immigration-related services within the scope of any other agreement with the government. It said it had a teaming agreement with Heitech Padu Bhd, which was awarded the National Integrated Immigration System (NIISe) project, under which immigration-related services, including foreign worker permits, were within the NIISe project scope. 'The suite of immigration-related services provided by the company continues to be accessible to customers through its platform,' it said. The company also said it expected minimal disruption and no material impact on its financial performance following this development. On July 15, it was reported that Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd fined seven of Zetrix AI's directors RM150,000 each for failing to ensure three company announcements in 2023 were factual and accurate. Bursa said Zetrix AI announced on July 7, 2023, among other things, that a notification letter dated July 4, 2023 from the home ministry confirmed the finance ministry's approval of the company's appointment as the government revenue collection agent and extended its role as the provider of online services for the immigration department. It said the July 7 announcement was inaccurate, false and misleading as it was inconsistent with the contents of the July 4 letter. It said Zetrix AI and the directors also failed to make an immediate announcement to clarify the inconsistency, but maintained its misrepresentation of matters in the company's subsequent announcements on Sept 13 and Sept 14 that year. On July 15, it was reported that Zetrix AI would seek a judicial review against Bursa over the penalty imposed on its directors.
Free Malaysia Today
4 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Trump slaps 25% tariff on ‘friend' India
Donald Trump's decision dashes hopes of a limited trade agreement between the US and India. (AP pic) WASHINGTON : President Donald Trump said today the US will impose a 25% tariff on goods imported from India starting on Aug 1. He said India, which has the world's fifth largest economy, will also face an unspecified penalty on Aug 1, but did not elaborate on the amount or what it was for. 'While India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their Tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the World, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary Trade Barriers of any Country,' Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. 'They have always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia, and are Russia's largest buyer of ENERGY, along with China, at a time when everyone wants Russia to STOP THE KILLING IN UKRAINE — ALL THINGS NOT GOOD!' India's commerce ministry, which is leading the trade negotiations with the US, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump's decision dashes hopes of a limited trade agreement between the two countries, which had been under negotiation for several months. US and Indian trade negotiators had held multiple rounds of discussions to resolve contentious issues, particularly over market access for American agricultural and dairy products. Despite progress in some areas, Indian officials resisted opening the domestic market to imports of wheat, corn, rice and genetically modified soybeans, citing risks to the livelihood of millions of Indian farmers. The new tariffs are expected to impact New Delhi's goods exports to the US, estimated at around US$87 billion in 2024, including labour-intensive products such as garments, pharmaceuticals, gems and jewellery, and petrochemicals. The US currently has a US$45.7 billion trade deficit with India. India now joins a growing list of countries facing higher tariffs under Trump's 'Liberation Day' trade policy, aimed at reshaping US trade relations by demanding greater reciprocity. The White House had previously warned India about its high average applied tariffs – nearly 39% on agricultural products, with rates climbing to 45% on vegetable oils and around 50% on apples and corn. The setback comes despite earlier commitments by prime minister Narendra Modi and Trump to conclude the first phase of a trade deal by autumn 2025 and expand bilateral trade to US$500 billion by 2030, up from US$191 billion in 2024. US manufacturing exports to India, valued at around US$42 billion in 2024, as well as energy exports such as liquefied natural gas, crude oil and coal, could also face retaliatory action if India chooses to respond in kind. Indian officials have previously indicated that they view the US as a key strategic partner, particularly in counter-balancing China. But they have emphasised the need to preserve policy space on agriculture, data governance and state subsidies.
Free Malaysia Today
5 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Fadhlina rubbishes claim matriculation inferior to STPM
Labis MP Pang Hok Liong had asked if the government was prepared to abolish the programme to address 'public suspicions' that it is of a far lower standard than the STPM examination. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Education minister Fadhlina Sidek has dismissed suggestions to abolish the matriculation programme, and denied claims that it is inferior to the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) examination. Fadhlina said the matriculation programme remained a recognised pre-university pathway, with graduates accepted by both local and international universities. 'The qualification is recognised by 58 foreign institutions, including 26 listed among the world's top 100 in the world university rankings. 'These include Cambridge University, University College London, the University of Sydney and Kyoto University,' she said in a written parliamentary reply. Fadhlina said matriculation graduates have also been eligible for Grade 29 executive posts in the civil service since 2017, in line with a 2016 circular. She said this broad recognition by universities and the public sector reflected the programme's quality and relevance. 'Therefore, questions on the standard of the matriculation programme do not arise at all,' she added. The minister was replying to Pang Hok Liong (PH-Labis), who asked if the government was prepared to abolish the programme to address 'public suspicions' that it is of a far lower standard than the STPM examination.
