Hong Kong revokes passports of British activists

Hong Kong’s defense secretary said in a statement that “all of them continue to carry out acts and activities that endanger national security after fleeing to the United Kingdom.”

Activists include Nathan Law Kun-chung, founder of the political party Demosisto and former MP, Simon Cheng Man-kit, co-founder of the “Hongkongers in Britain” group, trade unionist Christopher Mang Ciudad, lawyer Johnny Fok Ka. -C, Tony Choi Ming-da and Fin Lau So-dic.

In addition to revoking their passports, Hong Kong banned the six activists from accessing funds in the territory, selling or buying real estate in the city and forming ‘joint ventures’ or partnerships.

Hong Kong police warned in a statement that anyone who helps activists avoid these measures “commits a crime and is liable to up to seven years in prison if convicted.”

A Hong Kong government spokesman described the measures as a “strong blow” against “these wanted criminal outlaws”.

Officials accused the activists of issuing alarmist comments to “defame and slander the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region” and continuing to “cooperate with outside forces”.

In December, Hong Kong police offered rewards of one million Hong Kong dollars (just under 120,000 euros) for information leading to the capture of five overseas-based activists accused of crimes against national security.

The wanted activists have lived abroad since Beijing imposed a national security law in Hong Kong in 2020, cracking down on political dissent following a wave of pro-democracy protests in 2019.

In early May, the British Attorney General’s Office accused the director of Hong Kong’s commercial office in London and two other Chinese regional officials of helping gather information in the United Kingdom.

On June 3, China’s Ministry of State Security said it had detained two Chinese nationals for allegedly being part of an espionage project launched by the UK intelligence agency MI6.

In July 2023, activist Fin Lau, one of the targets of the measures announced today, told Lusa that Portugal should end its extradition treaty with Hong Kong after the new national security law comes into effect.

Portugal and the Czech Republic are the only two EU countries that still have extradition treaties with the Chinese region.

VQ (SYL/BM/JPI) // VQ

Lusa/End