Hong Kong Issues Bounty for Self-Exiled Activists
On Monday, Hong Kong police issued arrest warrants and a cash bounty of HK$1M ($128K) each for information leading to the arrest of eight pro-democracy activists living in exile.
Facts
- On Monday, Hong Kong police issued arrest warrants and a cash bounty of HK$1M ($128K) each for information leading to the arrest of eight pro-democracy activists living in exile.1
- Besides warning the public against financially supporting the activists, which include former lawmakers Ted Hui and Dennis Kwok, the police also ordered the freezing of their assets.2
- The political activists allegedly “committed serious crimes endangering national security, advocated sanctions, undermined Hong Kong, and intimidated Hong Kong officials.”3
- Furthermore, the eight have been accused of violating the country’s National Security Law by colluding and scheming with “foreign countries to undermine Hong Kong’s financial status.”4
- The self-exiled activists are reportedly based in the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia — countries that have halted participation in extradition treaties with Hong Kong because of the National Security Law.5
- Under Hong Kong’s National Security Law, passed after widespread anti-Beijing protests took place in 2019, hundreds of pro-democracy campaigners and civil society leaders have been arrested or gone into exile.6
Sources: 1France 24, 2The Japan Times, 3Al Jazeera, 4Hong Kong Free Press HKFP, 5CNN, and 6NPR Online News.
Narratives
- Anti-China narrative, as provided by VOA. Hong Kong is blatantly threatening the fundamental rights of its citizens by curbing their freedom of expression and assembly. The National Security Law is used to crush any opposition to the PRC-aligned establishment and silence free media. The democratic nations of the world must protect Hong Kong's pro-democracy figures living in exile.
- Pro-China narrative, as provided by XINHUA. It's natural for the West to criticize the Hong Kong police's actions as the US and the UK, among others, are sheltering the traitors. However, the PRC will not allow any interference in Hong Kong's rule of law or tolerate any attempts to incite anti-Beijing sentiments that endanger its national security.
