The UK government has condemned Hong Kong's recent cash offer incentivizing individuals to provide information leading to the arrest of pro-democracy activists residing in the UK, emphasizing its commitment to human rights and safety for all.
UK Denounces Hong Kong's Bounty for Activist Arrests in the UK
UK Denounces Hong Kong's Bounty for Activist Arrests in the UK
Government officials criticize Hong Kong's financial rewards for information on pro-democracy figures living abroad.
The UK has sharply criticized the latest move by Hong Kong authorities to offer financial rewards for information leading to the arrest of pro-democracy activists now residing in Britain. The call for assistance has been labeled as “another instance of transnational repression” by UK officials, including Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.
Hong Kong is promising between $25,000 (HK$200,000) and $125,000 for intel on 19 individuals who have fled the region. These activists are accused of infringing upon the national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020, which was largely targeted at curtailing the widespread anti-government protests that took place in 2019.
The offered amounts for information vary based on the targeted individual. Among those with the highest rewards are Choi Ming-da and Fok Ka-chi, who ran a social media outlet named “Tuesdayroad.” Notable figures such as Nathan Law, a former lawmaker, and activist Yuan Gong-Yi are also included. This is not the first instance of Hong Kong offering bounties; rewards were previously announced in July and December 2023, with Law noting that such threats have escalated the danger surrounding his life.
A specific visa scheme, initiated in 2021, facilitated the relocation of approximately 150,000 individuals from Hong Kong to the UK, according to government statistics. Following a controversial national security trial, many pro-democracy leaders in Hong Kong were sentenced to lengthy prison terms for subversion last November.
In response to the recent cash offer, Cooper and Lammy expressed solidarity with Hong Kong’s pro-democracy advocates and reiterated their government’s dedication to safeguarding the rights, freedoms, and safety of those in the UK. They emphasized the UK’s commitment to human rights and the rule of law, highlighting the recent step taken to detach from the Hong Kong extradition system by amending the Extradition Act 2003.
Hong Kong is promising between $25,000 (HK$200,000) and $125,000 for intel on 19 individuals who have fled the region. These activists are accused of infringing upon the national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020, which was largely targeted at curtailing the widespread anti-government protests that took place in 2019.
The offered amounts for information vary based on the targeted individual. Among those with the highest rewards are Choi Ming-da and Fok Ka-chi, who ran a social media outlet named “Tuesdayroad.” Notable figures such as Nathan Law, a former lawmaker, and activist Yuan Gong-Yi are also included. This is not the first instance of Hong Kong offering bounties; rewards were previously announced in July and December 2023, with Law noting that such threats have escalated the danger surrounding his life.
A specific visa scheme, initiated in 2021, facilitated the relocation of approximately 150,000 individuals from Hong Kong to the UK, according to government statistics. Following a controversial national security trial, many pro-democracy leaders in Hong Kong were sentenced to lengthy prison terms for subversion last November.
In response to the recent cash offer, Cooper and Lammy expressed solidarity with Hong Kong’s pro-democracy advocates and reiterated their government’s dedication to safeguarding the rights, freedoms, and safety of those in the UK. They emphasized the UK’s commitment to human rights and the rule of law, highlighting the recent step taken to detach from the Hong Kong extradition system by amending the Extradition Act 2003.
