<
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/03/hong-kong-issues-arrest-warrants-for-eight-overseas-democracy-activists>
"Hong Kong police have issued arrest warrants for eight overseas activists days
after the third anniversary of the introduction of a national security law that
granted authorities sweeping extraterritorial powers to prosecute acts or
comments made anywhere in the world that it deems criminal.
Supt Steve Li Kwai-wah, a police officer, told a press conference on Monday
that Nathan Law, Anna Kwok, Finn Lau, Dennis Kwok, Ted Hui, Kevin Yam, Mung
Siu-tat and Yuan Gong-yi, high-profile pro-democracy activists, former
lawmakers and legal scholars, “have encouraged sanctions … to destroy Hong
Kong”.
The eight, who are based in various places including the UK – where at least
three of them are based – the US and Australia, are accused of continuing to
violate the national security law while in exile. The charges carry a maximum
life sentence.
Police have offered a reward of HK$1m (£100,700) a person.
The national security law, which is widely seen as a Beijing-backed tool of
suppression in Hong Kong, was imposed on 30 June 2020 after months of
pro-democracy protests had engulfed the city. Chinese and Hong Kong authorities
say the law was necessary to restore stability to the territory but critics say
that it violates free expression. All left Hong Kong after the introduction of
the law.
Writing on Twitter, Law, who has been granted asylum in the UK, said: “These
charges are classic examples of abusing the concept of ‘national security’,
pushing its definition to an extreme to suppress dissident voices."
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
