Some observers have suggested that Hong Kong and Chinese government officials must have been humiliated by the sub-30% voter turnout in the recent “patriots-only” elections in Hong Kong. If so, the blow to their psyches hasn’t inspired them to rethink anything. Hong Kong officials are not softening or dropping any of their repressive policies and bullying tactics, including the tactic of issuing arrest warrants for former residents of Hong Kong and offering hefty rewards for their capture and return.
The only “crime” of these pro-democracy activists now residing in foreign countries is that of criticizing the Hong Kong government’s repression.
According to Nikkei Asia (“Hong Kong adds five more democracy activists to overseas wanted list,” December 14, 2023):
Hong Kong’s national security police issued arrest warrants on Thursday for five democracy activists living overseas in an attempt to ramp up efforts to silence critics beyond its borders.
Simon Cheng, Frances Hui, Joey Siu, Johnny Fok and Tony Choi are accused of alleged subversion, foreign collusion and secession, all offenses under a sweeping national security law that critics say has eroded freedoms and rights in the city.
The police are offering 1 million Hong Kong dollars ($128,064) for each individual. They have accused the five suspects of promoting ideas of Hong Kong independence and of various acts that have “sold out their country and Hong Kong.”
“We will pursue them to the end,” Chief Superintendent Li Kwai-wah of the Hong Kong Police said at a news conference.
One of the newly targeted five, Simon Cheng, calls the warrant a “lifelong honor.” Hong Kong Free Press reports:
Cheng, who is based in London, is the founder of Hongkongers in Britain, a group that supports Hongkongers settling in the UK. He was detained by Chinese authorities as he attempted to return to Hong Kong from a business trip in Shenzhen in August 2019, when protests engulfed the city, and was granted asylum by the UK government three years ago.
British Foreign Minister David Cameron said in a formal statement that the U.K. government won’t tolerate the attempts of foreign powers to harass people in the United Kingdom: “This is a threat to our democracy and fundamental human rights.”
Despite the supportive words, some former Hong Kongers living in Britain say that the government doesn’t do enough to protect them from such harassment.
The U.S. State Department has also objected to the warrants and bounties.
P.S. Reporters should really stop saying things like “critics say” that the National Security Law of 2020 has eroded freedom and rights in Hong Kong as a substitute for saying so themselves. Do weathermen say “people say” it’s raining as a substitute for directly stating their own view of the matter? No. When it’s raining, the meteorologists boldly assert as fact that it’s raining on the basis of their own professional observations: atmospheric readings, looking out the window, etc. In the same way, journalists who have informed themselves about the course of events in Hong Kong should be able to straightforwardly refer to “a sweeping national security law that has eroded freedoms and rights in the city” without resorting to a hedge.
