Passports of 6 overseas-based activists in Hong Kong canceled
Robert Besser
17 Jun 2024, 01:21 GMT+10
- Under its new national security law, six overseas-based activists, including former pro-democracy lawmaker Nathan Law, had their passports canceled this week by the Hong Kong government
- Apart from Law, the others on the list were unionist Mung Siu-tat and activists Simon Cheng, Finn Lau, Johnny Fok and Tony Choi
- A 1 million Hong Kong dollars (US $128,000) reward each was offered for information leading to their arrests
HONG KONG: Under its new national security law, six overseas-based activists, including former pro-democracy lawmaker Nathan Law, had their passports canceled this week by the Hong Kong government.
Apart from Law, the others on the list were unionist Mung Siu-tat and activists Simon Cheng, Finn Lau, Johnny Fok and Tony Choi. They had been accused of endangering national security by authorities in Hong Kong. The government claimed they had “absconded” to the United Kingdom.
A 1 million Hong Kong dollars (US $128,000) reward each was offered for information leading to their arrests.
People were also banned from providing funds or economic resources to the six, leasing properties to them or, forming any joint venture with them, or risking a penalty of up to seven years in prison.
The government said the six were continuing to engage in activities that endanger national security, smearing the city and colluding with external forces, forcing them to act.
Secretary for Security Chris Tang, when asked whether subscribing to the activists’ accounts on Patreon and YouTube is illegal, was quoted by The Associated Press as saying anyone who funds them would be seen as violating the rules, regardless of the platform.
The measures were taken under the new powers granted by Hong Kong’s homegrown national security law enacted in March.
Beijing imposed a similar national security law on the territory in 2020 that effectively wiped out most public dissent following huge anti-government protests in 2019. Many activists were arrested, silenced or forced into self-exile.
Over 144,400 people from Hong Kong have moved to the U.K. using a special visa to live and work and apply for British citizenship after six years. The U.K. introduced the pathway in 2021, responding to the 2020 security law.
Additionally, the British government granted asylum to activists Law and Cheng.
In a post on Facebook, Law said he had submitted his passport to U.K. authorities when he applied for asylum in 2020 and has not collected it back, calling the government’s statement “a redundant move.”
Last week, two British judges resigned from the city’s top court. One of them stated “the political situation in Hong Kong” as the reason. In a strongly worded article, the other one said the rule of law in the city is in “grave danger” and that judges operate in an “impossible political environment created by China.”
The Hong Kong government strongly criticized the articles.
Newsessentials Blog 
Posted on June 17, 2024
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