Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee announced on July 4 that eight overseas-based Hong Kong activists, who were issued with arrest warrants for alleged national security offenses, would be "pursued for life," Reuters reports.
"The only way to end their destiny of being an abscondee who will be pursued for life is to surrender," Lee stated during a press conference.
The Hong Kong police issued arrest warrants on Monday for the eight activists based overseas, accusing them of national security offenses, including foreign collusion and incitement to secession. The police have offered rewards of HK$1 million ($127,656) for information leading to the arrest of each individual.
The activists named in the arrest warrants include Nathan Law, Anna Kwok, Finn Lau, Dennis Kwok, Ted Hui, Kevin Yam, Mung Siu-tat, and Yuan Gong-yi. They are located in various countries such as the United States, Britain, and Australia.
These arrest warrants are in connection with the national security law imposed by Beijing on Hong Kong in 2020. The United States and Britain have criticized the move, expressing concerns about the suppression of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement.
In response to the arrest warrants, the U.S. State Department condemned the action, stating that it set "a dangerous precedent that threatens the human rights and fundamental freedoms of people all over the world."
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly emphasized that the UK government "will not tolerate any attempts by China to intimidate and silence individuals in the UK and overseas."
Hong Kong and Chinese authorities argue that the national security law has restored stability to Hong Kong and safeguarded its economic success.
Chief Executive John Lee further stated that authorities would monitor the activities of the eight activists while they are overseas, without providing specific details on how this would be done. Lee also appealed to the public to provide information on the activists.
The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, a global coalition of politicians, expressed concern over the arrest warrants, stating that it confirmed fears of Hong Kongers abroad and represented a dangerous escalation in Beijing's global crackdown on dissent. The coalition also noted that the "bounties" offered on the activists could exacerbate tensions and potentially infringe on sovereignty in the Western democracies where they are currently based.
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