The Hong Kong government, on Wednesday, announced the cancellation of passports belonging to six pro-democracy activists who have fled to the United Kingdom, labeling them as “lawless wanted criminals.” This action follows the issuance of HK$1 million bounties last year for 13 activists residing abroad, who authorities allege committed national security crimes.
The six individuals named Wednesday, identified as Nathan Law, Mung Siu-tat, Simon Cheng, Finn Lau, Fok Ka-chi, and Choi Ming-da, are considered “lawless wanted criminals… hiding in the United Kingdom,” according to a government spokesperson. The spokesperson stated that they “continue to blatantly engage in activities that endanger national security” and the government has taken measures to counteract their actions, including the revocation of their HKSAR passports.
The legal justification for revoking these passports is said to be a national security law enacted in March. Police authorities emphasize that providing financial support, renting property, or conducting business with the named individuals carries the risk of facing up to seven years of imprisonment. This development coincides with the fifth anniversary of a violent confrontation between protesters and police, which marked a significant escalation in the 2019 Hong Kong pro-democracy protests.
International condemnation has been expressed regarding the recent bounties issued in December, with the United States and Britain criticizing them as “a threat to our democracy and fundamental human rights.” Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, John Lee, has vowed to “pursue for life” the wanted activists and urged them to surrender.
The imposition of a sweeping national security law on Hong Kong by Beijing in 2020, in response to large-scale and occasionally violent demonstrations, has had a transformative impact on society and eroded the legal firewall that previously existed between the city and mainland China. This law grants authorities the power to hold alleged offenders accountable anywhere in the world. The six individuals named Wednesday face charges of national security crimes, including incitement to secession, incitement to subversion, and foreign collusion, which carry the potential for life imprisonment. A newly enacted national security law, passed in March, has further strengthened the enforcement powers of Hong Kong authorities, allowing for actions such as passport revocation.
