When Zheng Yanxiong, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, inspected a police passing-out parade last month, he called on the Hong Kong Police Force to strictly enforce the National Security Law for Hong Kong (NSL), warning that hostile external forces were still attempting to undermine the stability of Hong Kong while anti-China elements were plotting a comeback. 

Though the promulgation of the NSL has effectively helped restore peace and order in the city and lifted residents out of the wilderness of fear, Hong Kong cannot ignore the risks posed by overseas anti-China disrupters who are still working in tandem with the strategic interests of hostile external forces.

Since the promulgation of the NSL in June 2020, at least 260 people have been arrested for alleged violations. In July, the issue of court warrants for eight leading anti-China disrupters who have left the city, along with up to HK$1 million ($128,000) in reward money for information leading to each arrest, reflects the NSL’s extraterritoriality. But what seems to be a legally feasible solution on paper to bring the eight suspects to justice is politically irrelevant on the ground.

It’s a fallacy to suggest that anti-China elements in foreign countries are no longer a threat to China’s national security, and that hostile foreign forces have given up their intention to disrupt Hong Kong’s development and stability. In order to complete the journey to long-term stability, we must target those offshore anti-China fugitives and their affiliates at home

It’s highly unlikely that overseas law enforcement agencies would help catch those on the wanted list; they probably would consider those fugitives as “political refugees” who are usually not listed as wanted through Interpol’s “Red Notice” program. Besides, Australia, Britain and the US have suspended extradition treaties with Hong Kong. In the following discussion, we will focus on the latent threats posed by three wanted people; namely, Dennis Kwok Wing-hang, Ted Hui Chi-fung, and Elmer Yuen Gong-yi. The National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force must be at the forefront of the fight against these latent threats.

Kwok, a former member of the Legislative Council, is a founding member of the Civic Party. When Kwok was the deputy chairman of the LegCo House Committee, he was accused of delaying the legislative proceedings. As a result, he was disqualified from LegCo on Nov 11, 2020. Later, Kwok announced his resignation from politics and left Hong Kong. Following his departure from the city, Kwok was named as a distinguished scholar in the Asian Studies Program of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. He is now a lawyer in the US.

Familiar with mainstream Western culture and equipped with an outstanding ability to use English at a sophisticated level, Kwok is able to achieve incredible success in persuading English-speaking Westerners to buy his arguments. Unfortunately, he does not use his persuasive talent to serve the interests of Hong Kong and the motherland. As a lawmaker, he also had a sacred duty to safeguard and promote the well-being of Hong Kong. Instead of discharging his duty, Kwok chose the wrong path and stood on the wrong side of history. It should not, in any way, be surprising that Kwok will live with the opprobrium of betraying his hometown and country for the rest of his life.

Kwok was charged with collusion. Unlike other fugitives, he has relied heavily on Western mainstream media and academic journals to defame China. One example is his wrongful interpretation of Beijing’s policy toward Taiwan. He and Johnny Patterson claimed that President Xi Jinping’s “political ambition” and “nationalism” are the most influential factors in Beijing’s policy on Taiwan, and that on matters of national sovereignty, economic concerns are secondary.

Like Kwok, Hui, a lawmaker in Hong Kong from 2016 to 2020, still poses a great threat to China’s national security. After using false pretenses to cheat the court of Hong Kong, Hui was allowed to leave the city and become an offshore anti-China disrupter. He has vowed to widen Hong Kong’s “international battlefront”. He likes to use social media to propagate his malicious anti-China narratives. In March 2021, he arrived in Australia and stated clearly that he wanted to expand international lobbying efforts. In August 2023, he was admitted to South Australia state’s Supreme Court as a barrister and solicitor.

In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, Hui said he will provide legal assistance for those who were seeking asylum from Hong Kong. He also urged the Australian government to lash out at Hong Kong’s law enforcement actions. Furthermore, he urged Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese not to meet with President Xi.

Between January 2021 and December 2022, Hui allegedly published posts on social media urging foreign governments to impose sanctions on the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong. He has also been accused of advocating “Hong Kong independence” and “Taiwan independence”. Hui’s personal connection with lawmakers and politicians in some Western countries should add an important perspective to the discussion of his national security threats. For instance, Hui was able to gain access to Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in January 2023 in Adelaide.

Yuen is also a latently dangerous threat to China’s national security. Not to be overshadowed by other anti-China disrupters, Yuen has tried to score marks in subverting the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government by establishing the so-called “Hong Kong Parliament Electoral Organizing Committee” in Toronto in 2022, with the ultimate aim of creating an “exiled Hong Kong parliament” to promote “self-determination”, another name for “Hong Kong independence”. The committee is chaired by journalist Victor Ho, who is the former editor-in-chief of the Vancouver edition of Sing Tao Daily.

Yuen is accused of having encouraged foreign countries to impose sanctions on Hong Kong officials and judges and promoting Hong Kong’s “self-determination”. Though Yuen is a latecomer to politics, he is wholeheartedly devoted to the anti-China political cause.

It’s a fallacy to suggest that anti-China elements in foreign countries are no longer a threat to China’s national security, and that hostile foreign forces have given up their intention to disrupt Hong Kong’s development and stability. In order to complete the journey to long-term stability, we must target those offshore anti-China fugitives and their affiliates at home.

Hung Kam-in is the convener of City Think Tank, and a district administration adviser of Chinese Dream Think Tank. 

Kacee Ting Wong is a barrister, part-time researcher of Shenzhen University Hong Kong and Macao Basic Law Research Center, and chairman of Chinese Dream Think Tank.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.