HONG KONG: Hong Kong police announced arrest warrants on December 24 for six overseas-based activists, each accused of national security offenses, including secession, subversion, and collusion with foreign forces.
Authorities set bounties at HK$1 million for information leading to their capture.
Among those targeted is Tony Chung, the former leader of the now-disbanded pro-independence group Studentlocalism. Also named are U.K.-based Carmen Lau, a former district councilor now with the Hong Kong Democracy Council, and Chloe Cheung, an activist with the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong.
The warrants highlight Hong Kong’s ongoing crackdown on political dissent, particularly against critics who have sought refuge abroad. Previous warrants targeted high-profile figures like ex-lawmakers Ted Hui and Nathan Law.
Chung, wanted for a second time under the national security law, called the accusation an “honor.” In an Instagram post, he reaffirmed his commitment to promoting Hong Kong’s self-determination, stating, “Today’s wanted notice is undoubtedly a kind of affirmation for me.”
Cheung, also based in the U.K., criticized the regime in her response. “How panicked are they that they have to put a million-dollar bounty on me?” she wrote on Instagram. Lau urged international governments to impose sanctions on Hong Kong officials, advocating for democracy and self-determination.
Human Rights Watch condemned the move, calling it a “cowardly act of intimidation.” Maya Wang, the organization’s associate China director, stated, “We call on the U.K. and Canadian governments to act immediately to push back against the Hong Kong government’s attempts to threaten Hong Kongers living in their countries.”
The list of wanted individuals now totals 19. Other names on the latest list include Chung Kim-wah, a former member of the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute; Joseph Tay, co-founder of Canada-based NGO HongKonger Station; and YouTuber Victor Ho.
In a separate move this week, Hong Kong authorities announced the cancellation of passports belonging to seven individuals labeled as “absconders,” including ex-lawmakers Hui and Dennis Kwok. The government also froze its assets and prohibited joint ventures or property-related activities under national security law.
