In this August 2020 photo, pro-democracy legislators Ted Hui (Centre L) and Lam Cheuk- ting (C) talk to journalism outside the West Kowloon Magistrates Court after being approved bail following their arrest the day in the past in a cops operation concentrated on in 2015’s big demonstrations.
Anthony Wallace|Afp|Getty Images
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee swore Tuesday to pursue 8 pro-democracy activists “for life” after they were targeted with arrest warrants for supposed nationwide security offenses.
“Endangering nationwide security is a major criminal activity and the [Hong Kong] federal government will impose the law strictly,” Lee stated in Cantonese at an interview in Hong Kong, according to a CNBC translation.
“The government will use all legal means, and to the best of our ability, hold these criminals endangering national security accountable,” he included. “Even if these fugitives go to the ends of the Earth, the authorities will pursue these criminals for life.”
Lee stated surrender is the only option for them. “Otherwise, they will be pursued for life, worrying every day about being arrested and living in fear,” he included.
On Monday, Hong Kong authorities implicated the 8 abroad activists of offenses under the nationwide security law, consisting of foreign collusion, subversion and incitement to succession. The questionable law was withstood for numerous years prior to it was troubled Hong Kong in 2020 after lengthy anti-China objects the year prior to.
Beijing stated at the time that the legislation was focused on forbiding secession, subversion of state power, terrorism activities and foreign disturbance. Critics think the security law weakens the autonomy assured to Hong Kong for 50 years after it was turned over from the U.K. to China on July 1, 1997.
Police have actually likewise provided a benefit of 1 million Hong Kong dollars ($127, 715) for details resulting in the arrest of each activist and cautioned the general public it’s prohibited to use them any kind of monetary help.
U.S., UK condemnation
The State Department also called on the Hong Kong government to withdraw the “bounty” and stop the international assertion of the national security law.
Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed “deep concern” while British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly stated the U.K. federal government “will not tolerate any attempts by China to intimidate and silence individuals in the UK and overseas.”
“The U.K. will always defend the universal right to freedom of expression and stand up for those who are targeted,” he stated in a declaration.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs representative Mao Ning reacted Tuesday: “We express our strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to certain countries’ blatant denigration of the Hong Kong National Security Law and interference in the Hong Kong SAR’s rule of law.”
“I would like to reiterate that Hong Kong affairs are purely China’s internal affairs and no external forces are allowed to intervene. Relevant countries should respect China’s sovereignty and Hong Kong’s rule of law, stop supporting anti-China disruptors in Hong Kong, and stop shielding criminals,” Mao stated at a routine interview in Beijing, according to a translation supplied by Reuters.
The implicated are activists Nathan Law, Anna Kwok and Finn Lau, unionist Mung Siu- tat, online analyst Yuan Gong- yi, previous lawmakers Dennis Kwok and Ted Hui in addition to legal representative and legal scholar Kevin Yam, who is an Australian resident. Many Hong Kong activists left the city after it carried out the nationwide security law and looked for asylum in nations like the U.S., U.K. and Australia.
The Hong Kong federal government’s charges likewise implicate the activists of “instigating” foreign powers to enforce sanctions on Hong Kong and China.
“I have not accepted any foreign govt funding, nor am I employed by any govt agencies. I don’t accept any commands or orders,” Law said on Twitter. “If meeting foreign politicians, attending seminars & hearings are ‘colluding with foreign forces,’ a lot of HK officials should be in legal trouble.”
