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https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/07/04/hong-kong-warrants-aim-activists-abroad>
"(New York) – Hong Kong authorities have issued baseless arrest warrants and
HK$1 million (US$128,000) bounties on eight exiled democracy activists and
former legislators that expand China’s political intimidation campaign beyond
its borders, Human Rights Watch said today.
On July 3, 2023, the Hong Kong national security police alleged that the eight
people – former lawmakers Ted Hui, Dennis Kwok, and Nathan Law; activists Anna
Kwok, Elmer Yuen, and Finn Lau; Christopher Mung, a labor unionist; and Kevin
Yam, a lawyer – “committed serious crimes endangering national security,
advocated sanctions, undermined Hong Kong, and intimidated Hong Kong
officials,” and “schemed for foreign countries to undermine Hong Kong’s
financial status.” The authorities should immediately drop the charges and
bounties.
“The Hong Kong government increasingly goes above and beyond to persecute
peaceful dissent both within Hong Kong and abroad,” said Maya Wang, associate
Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Offering a cross-border bounty is a
feeble attempt to intimidate activists and elected representatives outside Hong
Kong who speak up for people’s rights against Beijing’s growing repression.”
All of the suspects have been charged with “colluding with foreign forces,”
except for Mung, who faces one charge of “inciting secession.” Law is also
charged with “inciting secession,” Yuen with “subversion,” and Hui with
“inciting secession” and “inciting subversion.” The police accused several of
advocating sanctions against state officials. They also accused Hui of
initiating the 2021 Hong Kong Charter, which endorses continued activism from
abroad, and Yuen of organizing a Hong Kong parliament-in-exile.
The police claim such peaceful activities are all plots to “advocate Hong
Kong’s independence.” Incitement carries 10 years in prison while “collusion”
and “subversion” carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The alleged unlawful activities should be protected under human rights
guarantees enshrined in Hong Kong’s de facto constitution, the Basic Law, and
the Bill of Rights Ordinance, which incorporates the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights. But the Beijing and Hong Kong governments have
eliminated these protections since Beijing imposed a draconian National
Security Law on the city on June 30, 2020."
Via David.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
