The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government has revoked the passports of seven fugitives wanted on national security charges, and placed six more people who’ve also fled abroad on the wanted list.
The seven whose passports have been cancelled are former legislators Ted Hui Chi-fung and Dennis Kwok Wing-hang, businessman Elmer Yuan Gong-yi, lawyer Kevin Yam Kin-fung, Frances Hui Wing-ting, Anna Kwok Fung-yee and Joey Siu Nam. They are all living overseas and are listed by the HKSAR government as absconders for endangering national security.
At a news conference on Tuesday, Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung also said six more people are being sought for allegedly violating Hong Kong’s national security laws, with rewards of HK$1 million ($128,760) offered for information leading to their arrest.
He said members of the public are banned from providing the absconders with money, handling their funds, or engaging in any property businesses, as well as joint ventures or partnerships, with the suspects.
Dennis Kwok and Yam, who’re both lawyers, face having their legal practice qualifications suspended, while Yuan has been temporarily dismissed from his directorships of local companies.
The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, which was enacted on March 23 this year, grants the secretary for security the authority to specify people suspected of jeopardizing national security, but are believed to be not in the HKSAR, as absconders, and to impose corresponding restrictive measures against them.
Arrest warrants for Hui, Yuan, Dennis Kwok, Anna Kwok and Kevin Yam were issued on July 3 last year for allegedly breaching the National Security Law for Hong Kong, and warrants for Frances Hui and Joey Siu were issued on Dec 14. The seven had fled to the United States and Australia before warrants for their arrests were issued.
Tang said the seven suspects continue to engage in actions that endanger national security while abroad, inciting separatism and calling for foreign governments to impose sanctions on the nation and the HKSAR.
He said Hui has colluded with foreign politicians and profited from his actions that threaten national security, adding that the SAR government has initiated legal proceedings to confiscate Hui’s criminal proceeds of about HK$800,000 in accordance with the law.
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A government spokesperson stressed that the seizure only targets those who’ve committed and profited from offences that endanger national security, and has no impact on law-abiding residents and business in Hong Kong.
Tang warned that residents should avoid any financial or business dealings with the absconders.
At the press conference, the police confirmed that, at their request, the court has issued arrest warrants for six more people accused of having committed offenses under the NSL – bringing the number of people wanted for allegedly violating the NSL to 19 so far.
The six added to the wanted list are former district councilor Carmen Lau Ka-man, scholar Chung Kim-wah, actor Joseph Tay, Tony Chung Hon-lam, Victor Ho Leung-mau and Chloe Cheung Hei-ching. A bounty of HK$1 million each has been issued for their arrest.
Their alleged offenses include subversion, incitement to secession and collusion with external forces to endanger national security.
The police said that after having fled overseas, the six suspects continue to engage in activities that threaten national security through various platforms and videos. These activities include advocating for “Hong Kong independence”, seeking foreign sanctions against central government and local officials, as well as judges involved in national security cases, and calling for the closure of Hong Kong’s overseas economic and trade offices.
Andrew Kan Kai-yan, deputy commissioner of police overseeing national security, urged the absconders to return to Hong Kong and give themselves up, saying the force will continue to investigate related cases and pursue those who threaten national security regardless of where they are.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Mao Ning on Tuesday backed the HKSAR’s move against the fugitives, saying the SAR government is performing its duties in accordance with the law.
She emphasized that Hong Kong is a society governed by the rule of law, where no one has extralegal privileges, and any illegal criminal activity will inevitably be punished by the law.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR sad the law enforcement actions taken by the HKSAR government effectively uphold the dignity of the law and safeguard national security.
The office said it will continue to work together with the SAR government to ensure the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong society and the stable implementation of “one country, two systems” in the city.
Article 23 of Hong Kong’s Basic Law requires the city to enact laws to prohibit various types of acts that endanger national security.
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Implemented on June 30, 2020, the NSL criminalizes acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security.
The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance punishes offenders involved in five types of acts that endanger national security, including treason, theft of State secrets and espionage.
