Latest news with #nationalsecuritylaw
Al Jazeera
5 days ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
UK blasts Hong Kong rewards for help to catch activists overseas
The United Kingdom has condemned Hong Kong authorities for offering payment in exchange for assisting in the arrest of pro-democracy activists living in Britain, even as the British government begins the process of reinstating an extradition deal with the autonomous Chinese city. Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper issued a joint statement on Friday shortly after Hong Kong announced cash rewards for information leading to the arrest of 19 pro-democracy activists based abroad, including in Britain, who are accused of violating the strict national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020. In their statement, Lammy and Cooper called on China to stop targeting opposition voices in Britain. 'The Hong Kong Police Force's issuing of further arrest warrants and bounties on individuals living in the UK is another example of transnational repression,' their statement read. The bounties range from 200,000 to one million Hong Kong dollars (about $25,000-$125,000), depending on the individual the Hong Kong authorities seek to arrest. This is the fourth time Hong Kong authorities have made reward offers, which have drawn strong criticism from Western countries, to which China, in turn, has denounced as 'interference'. In their statement, the two British ministers said that 'this Government will continue to stand with the people of Hong Kong, including those who have made the [United Kingdom] their home. We take the protection of their rights, freedoms, and safety very seriously'. But a recent proposal by the British government to reform extradition rules has prompted serious concerns, with some fearing it could pave the way for a resumption of extraditions to Hong Kong, which have been suspended since the 2020 national security law was enacted. On Friday, Al Jazeera reported that the UK Home Office applied to Parliament to make changes to the country's legislation regarding extradition on July 17, followed by a letter to Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp the next day. 'It is in our national interest to have effective extradition relationships to prevent criminals from evading justice and the UK becoming a haven for criminals,' the July 18 letter from Security Minister Dan Jarvis said. The Home Office also plans to restore an extradition framework with Chile and Zimbabwe, according to the letter, which was shared on X by Conservative MP Alicia Kearns. Cases for Hong Kong and Zimbabwe would both be considered on a 'case-by-case basis', Jarvis said. About 150,000 Hong Kong nationals migrated to the UK under a special visa scheme introduced in 2021. In 2024, legislators in Hong Kong approved a new national security law – referred to as Article 23 – that gave the government new powers to crack down on all forms of dissent on the grounds of alleged treason, espionage, sedition and external interference in Hong Kong's internal affairs. Since then, Hong Kong has been offering bounties for the arrest of activists who have fled the city while facing charges related to the pro-democracy protests. Hong Kong, a former British colony, is a particular sticking point for the UK due to its historical relationship and the sharp decline in political freedoms in Hong Kong since China imposed controversial national security legislation in 2020. 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.
Al Arabiya
5 days ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
UK condemns Hong Kong's reward offers for suspects living in Britain
The UK on Friday condemned Hong Kong authorities for offering payment in exchange for assisting in the arrest of pro-democracy activists living in Britain. 'The Hong Kong Police Force's issuing of further arrest warrants and bounties on individuals living in the UK is another example of transnational repression,' Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said in a joint statement. Hong Kong authorities announced Friday that they are offering cash rewards for information leading to the arrest of 19 pro-democracy activists based abroad, accused of violating the national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020. The bounties range from about $25,000 (HK$200,000) to $125,000, depending on the individual Hong Kong seeks. This is the fourth time Hong Kong authorities have made this type of appeal, which has already drawn strong criticism from Western countries, which China in turn has denounced as 'interference.' In their statement, Lammy and Cooper called on China to stop targeting opposition voices in Britain. Around 150,000 Hong Kong nationals migrated to the UK under a special visa scheme introduced in 2021. But a recent proposal by the British government to reform extradition rules has sparked serious concerns, with some fearing it could pave the way for a resumption of extraditions to Hong Kong, which have been suspended since the 2020 national security law was enacted. In their statement, the two British ministers said 'this Government will continue to stand with the people of Hong Kong, including those who have made the UK their home. We take the protection of their rights, freedoms, and safety very seriously.'
The Australian
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Australian
UK condemns Hong Kong's reward offers for suspects living in Britain
The UK on Friday condemned Hong Kong authorities for offering payment in exchange for assisting in the arrest of pro-democracy activists living in Britain. "The Hong Kong Police Force's issuing of further arrest warrants and bounties on individuals living in the UK is another example of transnational repression," Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said in a joint statement. Hong Kong authorities announced Friday that they are offering cash rewards for information leading to the arrest of 19 pro-democracy activists based abroad, accused of violating the national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020. The bounties range from about $25,000 (HK$200,000) to $125,000, depending on the individual Hong Kong seeks. This is the fourth time Hong Kong authorities have made this type of appeal, which has already drawn strong criticism from Western countries, which China in turn has denounced as "interference." In their statement, Lammy and Cooper called on China to stop targeting opposition voices in Britain. Around 150,000 Hong Kong nationals migrated to the UK under a special visa scheme introduced in 2021. But a recent proposal by the British government to reform extradition rules has sparked serious concerns, with some fearing it could pave the way for a resumption of extraditions to Hong Kong, which have been suspended since the 2020 national security law was enacted. In their statement, the two British ministers said "this Government will continue to stand with the people of Hong Kong, including those who have made the UK their home. We take the protection of their rights, freedoms, and safety very seriously." mhc/gv/sla
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Politics
- News.com.au
UK condemns Hong Kong's reward offers for suspects living in Britain
The UK on Friday condemned Hong Kong authorities for offering payment in exchange for assisting in the arrest of pro-democracy activists living in Britain. "The Hong Kong Police Force's issuing of further arrest warrants and bounties on individuals living in the UK is another example of transnational repression," Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said in a joint statement. Hong Kong authorities announced Friday that they are offering cash rewards for information leading to the arrest of 19 pro-democracy activists based abroad, accused of violating the national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020. The bounties range from about $25,000 (HK$200,000) to $125,000, depending on the individual Hong Kong seeks. This is the fourth time Hong Kong authorities have made this type of appeal, which has already drawn strong criticism from Western countries, which China in turn has denounced as "interference." In their statement, Lammy and Cooper called on China to stop targeting opposition voices in Britain. Around 150,000 Hong Kong nationals migrated to the UK under a special visa scheme introduced in 2021. But a recent proposal by the British government to reform extradition rules has sparked serious concerns, with some fearing it could pave the way for a resumption of extraditions to Hong Kong, which have been suspended since the 2020 national security law was enacted. In their statement, the two British ministers said "this Government will continue to stand with the people of Hong Kong, including those who have made the UK their home. We take the protection of their rights, freedoms, and safety very seriously."
Free Malaysia Today
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Hong Kong arrests 18-year-old for ‘seditious' toilet graffiti
China imposed a national security law on Hong Kong after huge and sometimes violent protests in 2019. (EPA Images pic) HONG KONG : Hong Kong police said today they had arrested an 18-year-old for writing 'seditious words' on a toilet wall, warning he could face up to seven years in prison if convicted. The graffiti provoked hatred, contempt or disaffection against the Hong Kong government, police said, without specifying the exact content. Public opposition to the Hong Kong government and China in the financial hub has been essentially quashed since the introduction of two expansive national security laws in 2020 and 2024. The 18-year-old, a part-time clerk who had just finished secondary school, appeared in court today and was charged with committing 'an act or acts that had a seditious intention', and property damage. The man is accused of writing the graffiti on the wall of a bathroom in a commercial building over the course of July 17 to 21, AFP read in the court file. A first conviction for the sedition offence could be punishable with up to seven years in prison, police said. Beijing imposed a national security law on Hong Kong in 2020 after huge and sometimes violent pro-democracy protests the year before. City officials separately passed a homegrown security law last year, under which this case is being charged. The judge denied the accused's bail application, and the case was adjourned until Aug 19. As of July 1, authorities had arrested 333 people for various national security crimes, with 165 of them convicted.
