Hong Kong police offered million bounties for information leading to the capture of eight prominent democracy activists based abroad and wanted for national security crimesUK on Monday issued a warning to China after Hong Kong police offered bounties for information leading to the capture of prominent democracy activists based abroad who are wanted for “national security crimes
They have committed very serious offences that endanger national security,” said Steven Li, chief superintendent of the national security department.UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly warned China: “We will not tolerate any attempts by China to intimidate and silence individuals in the UK and overseas.The UK will always defend the universal right to freedom of expression and stand up for those who are targeted.”
The UK has been vocal in condemning China over what it sees as the erosion of rights and civil liberties in its former colony.In 2020, it suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong in protest at Beijing’s introduction of the national security law in the territory.It was one of 10 countries, including the United States, Australia and Canada, to suspend mutual legal assistance in criminal matters with Hong Kong.The group includes former pro-democracy lawmakers Nathan Law Kwun-chung, Ted Hui Chi-fung and Dennis Kwok Wing-hang, and veteran unionist Mung Siu-tat.
The national security law — which has reshaped Hong Kong society and busted down the legal firewall that once existed between the special autonomous region and the mainland — has the power to hold accused people across the world accountable.Under the law, security cases are handled by designated police officers, prosecutors and judges in Hong Kong, and Beijing can take over certain cases to try them in the mainland’s opaque, Communist Party-controlled justice system.
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