Hong Kong police issue arrest warrants, benefits for 6 activists, including 2 Canadians
Hong Kong police on Tuesday announced a new round of arrest warrants for six overseas-based activists – including two Canadian citizens – with rewards set at $185,000 for information leading to their arrest.
According to warrants, the six are wanted for national security offenses such as secession, coup d'état and collaboration with foreign forces. They include Tony Chung, former leader of the pro-independence group Studentlocalism.
UK-based Carmen Lau, a former district councilor and current activist for the Hong Kong Council for Democracy, and Chloe Cheung, an activist for the Hong Kong Freedom Committee, also had warrants issued against them.
The latest round of warrants shows that the Hong Kong government is targeting outspoken critics based abroad.
The government has previously issued two arrest warrants and grants for prominent activists, including former legislators Ted Hui and Nathan Law.
The rising number of people wanted abroad comes as Hong Kong continues to quell political tensions following massive anti-government protests in 2019 that led to the rise of pro-democracy movements. Many pro-democracy agitators were arrested and some fled abroad.
Hong Kong police on Tuesday announced arrest warrants for six overseas activists, including two Canadian citizens, and offered a $185,000 reward for information leading to their arrest. Cheuk Kwan with the Toronto Association for Democracy in China discusses how his community is affected and how Canada should respond.
Activists respond to the plans placed on their heads
Chung, a former leader of Studentlocalism, said in a story posted on Instagram that he was “honored” to be the first Hong Konger to be accused of violating national security law twice.
“As a staunch Hong Kong patriot, the notice sought today is undoubtedly a form of confirmation for me. In the future, I will continue to consistently and fearlessly promote Hong Kong's determination,” he wrote.
Separately, Cheung, who is based in the UK, wrote on Instagram that “even if I am facing a strong enemy, I will continue to do what I believe is right.”
“How weak, incompetent, and cowardly does the regime have to be to believe that I, a 19-year-old, ordinary Hongkonger, would risk and 'separate' the country? How scared are they that they have to risk the country? A million dollars to me?” he asked.
Article 23, Hong Kong's controversial national security law, has come into force. Many fear that the crackdown on dissent will further erode civil liberties.
Lau posted on X a call for governments, including those of the UK, US, and EU countries, to “impose sanctions on Hong Kong human rights abusers without delay” and urged democrats to support Hong Kong's right to self-determination. .
“The Hong Kong government's latest round of arrests of six Hong Kong activists is a cowardly act of intimidation aimed at silencing the people of Hong Kong,” said Maya Wang, China director at Human Rights Watch.
“These six – including two Canadian citizens – live in the UK and Canada. We call on the UK and Canadian governments to take immediate action to reverse the Hong Kong government's attempts to threaten Hong Kong people living in their own countries.”
Arrest warrants issued on Tuesday put the number of people wanted up to 19.
Others on the list on Tuesday are: Chung Kim-wah, formerly a senior member of the independent polling organization Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute; Joseph Tay, founder of Canada-based NGO HongKonger Station; and YouTuber Victor Ho.
Separately on Tuesday, the Hong Kong government issued orders to cancel the passports of seven “extraordinary” individuals, including former lawmakers Hui and Dennis Kwok, who are wanted under security law.
The orders were made under Hong Kong's national security law – known as Article 23 – and prohibit the seven from handling funds in Hong Kong and activities related to joint ventures and assets.
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