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Japan Today
4 days ago
- Politics
- Japan Today
Hong Kong issues arrest warrants for 19 overseas activists accused of subversion
Images of five activists Simon Cheng, Frances Hui, Joey Siu, Johnny Fok, and Tony Choi are displayed during a press conference to issue arrest warrants in Hong Kong, China December 14, 2023. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu By Jessie Pang 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 ($127,000). Among the remaining 15, for each of whom police are offering a bounty of HK$200,000 ($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 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 offenses 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 offense. © (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2025.
CBC
5 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
Hong Kong announces arrest warrants, rewards for exiles who formed political committee in Canada
Social Sharing 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 organization 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. At the request of 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 organized or participated in an election abroad for the Hong Kong Parliament, as well as setting up or becoming members of the group. While the group calls itself Hong Kong Parliament, its electoral organizing committee was founded in Toronto in 2022 and its influence is limited. According to a Facebook statement by the group on Jun. 30, its recent 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 two based in Canada, as well as individuals now in Taiwan, Thailand, Australia, the U.S. and Britain. Yuen said in a Facebook live broadcast that the police campaign would help the group rally support for the resistance movement. "It helps us with a lot of advertising," Yuen said. During the live chat with Yuen on Facebook, Sasha Gong, another person targeted by the bounties, accused Hong Kong of becoming a police state. She said she is a U.S. citizen and would report her case to the U.S. authorities and lawmakers. B.C. resident targeted a 2nd time Among the 19 activists, police have already offered one million Hong Kong dollars ($174,580 Cdn) for information leading to the arrest of Yuen, Ho, Fok and Choi when arrest warrants for separate activities were issued against them. Ho, the former editor of the Sing Tao Daily based in British Columbia, told CBC News at that time he would not be deterred in his advocacy for the rights of Hong Kongers free from Beijing interference. WATCH l Victor Ho of B.C. was among 6 named in a previous announcement: For the remaining 15 people, rewards of 200,000 Hong Kong dollars ($34,915 Cdn) 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 cancelled the passports of some of them under a recent security law introduced in the city last year. The moves against overseas-based activists have drawn criticism from foreign governments, especially given that 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. Calls for sanctions 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. In retaliation for the U.S. move, China in April said it would sanction U.S. officials, lawmakers and leaders of non-governmental organizations who it says have "performed poorly" on Hong Kong issues. The previous Liberal government in Ottawa announced sanctions on Chinese officials in two separate instances over the past five years, including in December, but not related to Hong Kong's crackdown on protesters, critics and politicians. Organizations such as Hong Kong Watch Canada and the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights are among those who have called on Ottawa to consider sanctions for officials involved in Hong Kong's repression. Jenny Kwan, the Hong Kong-born NDP MP for Vancouver East, has also called for targeted sanctions on Hong Kong officials.
