“Follow to the end”: Hong Kong offers millions in bounties to activists

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Hong Kong has issued arrest warrants for five more activists living abroad. Police in China’s Special Administrative Region announced on Friday that rewards of one million Hong Kong dollars (about 110,000 francs) had been offered for information leading to their arrest. Affected are Simon Cheng, Frances Hui, Joey Siu, Johnny Fok and Tony Choi.

The five activists are accused of various crimes, including “incitement to secession” and “conspiracy with foreign forces” to endanger national security.

“They sold their country and Hong Kong and ignored the interests of Hong Kong residents,” National Security Department chief Li Kwai-wah said at a news conference. “The National Security Department will pursue them to the end.” Li added that the activists continued to engage in “activities that endanger national security” even after leaving the country.

Activists have fled

After China’s Special Administrative Region passed a draconian security law to suppress the democracy movement three years ago, many activists fled, mainly to Britain, Australia and the US.

The US describes the bounty as a “blatant disregard” of international standards. Washington condemns any attempt to “extraterritorially apply the security law imposed by Beijing,” said US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, 49.

Act of “intimidation”

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron (57) spoke of a “threat to our democracy and fundamental human rights”. Britain will not tolerate attempts to ‘intimidate, harass or harm’ people in Britain.

Human rights group Amnesty International said the bounties “will only increase the climate of fear that already exists.” It is an act of “intimidation that crosses borders and aims to silence dissidents everywhere.”

In July, police in Hong Kong placed bounties on eight democracy activists living abroad. At least 30 people in Hong Kong have already been questioned by police over suspected links to the eight activists.

Premiums damage Hong Kong’s image

Observers at the time pointed out that the measures taken by Hong Kong authorities were unlikely to have any effect. After all, the countries where those affected now live have long suspended their extradition agreements with Hong Kong.

Critics of the measures complain that the premiums for the mostly young activists further damage the international reputation of the financial metropolis. The wanted posters of the mostly young activists hang prominently at Hong Kong airport and other border crossings. (AFP/jmh)

Source: Blick