Hong Kong authorities cancel passports of six pro-democracy activists with bounties in UK

Hong Kong Watch condemns the Hong Kong government cancelling the passports of six Hong Kong pro-democracy activists in the UK who were issued arrest warrants with HK$1 million (£100,508) bounties in July and December last year. This includes Finn Lau, Simon Cheng, Christopher Mung, Nathan Law, Johnny Fok and Tony Choi.

This is the first time the Hong Kong government has exercised its power to cancel the passports of alleged “absconders” under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, known as ‘Article 23’. Under Article 23, the Hong Kong Secretary for Security can declare an individual to be an absconder if they have an arrest warrant for a minimum of six months without appearing before a magistrate, and if the Secretary for Security “reasonably believes” they are not in Hong Kong.

The government will also cancel all business dealings in Hong Kong related to the six individuals, and make it unlawful to provide them with “funds, financial assets, handle their economic resources, or have property dealings”. Those who breach this provision or enter into a joint venture with these individuals could face up to seven years’ imprisonment.

The Hong Kong government press release reads, “These lawless wanted criminals are hiding in the United Kingdom and continue to blatantly engage in activities that endanger national security. They also make scaremongering remarks to smear and slander the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. More so, they continue to collude with external forces to protect their evil deeds. We therefore have taken such measures to give them a strong blow.”

The notable individuals who have been targeted since last year include former pro-democracy lawmakers, prominent Hong Kong lawyers and trade unionists, and activists who have campaigned against the activities of the Hong Kong government that breach Hong Kong’s obligations under international law and treaties.

Benedict Rogers, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong Watch, said:

“Hong Kong Watch condemns this outrageous manoeuvre by the Hong Kong authorities to further target, intimidate and silence these six pro-democracy activists living in the UK who have simply advocated for their freedoms. It is no coincidence that the authorities have cancelled their passports on the same day that millions of Hong Kongers are commemorating the fifth anniversary of the 2019 anti-extradition law protests in Hong Kong, and especially the demonstrations outside the Hong Kong Legislative Council on 12 June 2019. 

This blatant act of transnational repression further demonstrates that, in the absence of consequences, the Hong Kong government will be emboldened to commit further attacks on the safety of activists and the wider Hong Kong community in the UK. As the UK looks to the polls on 4 July, all political parties should commit to officially condemning this and other acts of transnational repression by the Hong Kong government.”

港府撤銷六名社運人士特區護照 香港監察譴責當局以23條施行跨國鎮壓

香港監察譴責香港政府撤銷六名在英香港民主活動人士的護照，去年7月和12月他們被港府以一百萬港元（100,508英鎊）懸紅通緝。六人包括：劉祖廸、鄭文傑、蒙兆達、羅冠聰、霍嘉誌和蔡明達。

這是香港政府首次根據《維護國家安全條例》（即「23條」）行使權力撤銷涉嫌為「潛逃者」的護照。根據23條，如果有人在拘捕令發出至少六個月內仍未出庭應訊，並且保安局局長「合理地相信」他們不在港，他便可宣布他們為潛逃者。

港府亦會取消所有與六人相關的在港業務來往，並禁止向他們提供資金或金融資產、處理經濟資源或進行地產交易。違規者或與他們成立合資企業的人士最高可被判處監禁七年。

香港政府新聞稿稱：「這些無法無天的通緝犯潛藏英國，並在當地繼續公然從事危害國家安全的勾當，並作出危言聳聽的言論抹黑詆毀香港特區，繼續肆意勾結外部勢力包庇其惡行，我們因此有需要採取是次措施強烈打擊。」

自去年以來被港府針對的人士包括前民主派議員、著名香港律師和工會成員，以及反對香港政府違反香港在國際法律及條約下義務的社運人士。

香港監察共同創辦人兼行政總監羅傑斯（Benedict Rogers）表示：

「香港監察譴責香港當局採取這種無恥的舉動，進一步針對、恐嚇和壓制這六名居住在英國的民主活動人士，他們只不過主張自己的自由。香港政府在數百萬香港人紀念2019年香港『反送中』運動五週年的同一日，特別是612立法會外示威這天撤銷六人護照，絕非巧合。

這種公然的跨國鎮壓行為進一步顯示，若沒有後果，香港政府只會更加大膽地進一步攻擊在英社運人士及廣大香港社群的安全。英國7月4日舉行大選，所有政黨都應承諾正式譴責香港政府這項及其他跨國鎮壓行為。」