Hong Kong cracks down on UK-based activists with new national security law | Beijing | Obstacles

The article was translated and adapted from English and originally published by the US headquarters of The Epoch Times.

Hong Kong authorities on Wednesday invoked the city's new national security law to crack down on pro-democracy activists deported to the United Kingdom.

The six people targeted were already wanted by Hong Kong police for crimes including inciting treason and colluding with external elements to endanger a foreign country or national security under the National Security Law imposed by Beijing.

Authorities have now announced new sanctions against them, including revoking their passports, using new powers under the Defense National Security Ordinance, Hong Kong's national security law passed in March.

The announcement came after two British judges resigned from the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal (HKFCA), one of them said. Former British colony “in grave danger”.

In announcing the new sanctions, Defense Secretary Chris Tang Bing-keung said the measures would apply to six “fugitives,” including former Hong Kong lawmaker Nathan Law; Simon Cheng, founder of the NGO Hongkongers in Britain; activists Finn Lau and Christopher Mung; and Tony Choi and Johnny Fogg, co-hosts of the YouTube channel.

The Hong Kong passports of six people were revoked.

Authorities prohibited the six from providing financial or economic resources, renting property to them or forming joint ventures with them, under penalties of up to seven years in prison.

They are Mr. Fogg's law license was also suspended, and Mr. Mang and Mr. Choi applied for “temporary removal from the position of director”.

Referring to the six as “illegal wanted criminals,” a government spokesman said they “continue to shamelessly engage in activities that endanger national security (…) slander and libel the Hong Kong administrative region (…) [e] Conspire with outside forces to protect their evil deeds.

Mr. Asked if it was illegal to subscribe to activists' Patreon and YouTube accounts, Tang said anyone funding them would be considered breaking the rules, regardless of the platform.

Six people living in the United Kingdom are among 13 pro-democracy activists wanted by Hong Kong police. They have each been rewarded with 1 million Hong Kong dollars (about £100,000 or US$128,000).

In response to orders in December 2023, British Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron He asked Beijing to withdraw National Security Act and “End Harassment of Political Activists.”

The Foreign Ministry summoned Chinese Ambassador Zheng Zeguang in May, saying “it is not acceptable to offer a reward”.

Since Beijing imposed a national security law on Hong Kong in 2020, many activists have been arrested, silenced or self-deported.

More than 1,44,400 people immigrated to the UK from Hong Kong, using a special visa that allows them to live and work in the country and apply for British citizenship after six years. In response to the 2020 Defense Act, the UK introduced the pathway in 2021.

Also, the British government granted asylum to Mr Law and Mr Cheng.

Mr. Law said Facebook It was unnecessary for him to declare that he had surrendered his Hong Kong passport when he applied for asylum in 2020.

He urged people in Hong Kong to prioritize their safety, but to look out for each other and “not lose our sense of right and wrong”.

And inside Facebook, Executive Director of HK Labor Rights Monitor Mr. Mung said: “You can take away my passport, but you can never revoke my identity as a Hong Kong citizen. The day will come when we will take back what we deserve with dignity.

Simon Cheng (front left) and Fin Lau (centre) during a march celebrating the two-year anniversary of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement in London on June 12, 2021. — Simon Cheng (front left) and Fin Lau (centre) at a march to mark the two-year anniversary of the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement in London on June 12, 2021.

On social media platform X, Mr Cheng said: “These measures are politically motivated and ineffective. Our lives and our security in the UK continue unchanged. Efforts to pacify us will strengthen our resolve to fight for democracy and human rights in Hong Kong.

He repeated Lord Sumption's comments following his resignation from Hong Kong's high court last week.

Lord Sumption said Hong Kong judges felt “intimidated or coerced by the murky political environment” and that it was “no longer realistic” for foreign judges to help uphold the rule of law in Hong Kong.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.