Hong Kong Police promises rewards for the arrest of 8 self-exiled activists

On Monday , the Hong Kong police accused eight activists of transgressing the territory’s National Security Law and promised to offer 1 million Hong Kong Dollars as a reward for providing important information leading to their arrest.

The rewards are the first for suspects accused of violating the Beijing-imposed legislation since it took effect in June 2020. It outlaws subversion, secession, collusion with foreign forces and terrorism.

The police revealed at a news conference the names of the accused activists.

The eight activists are former lawmakers Nathan Law, Ted Hui and Dennis Kwok; lawyer Kevin Yam; unionist Mung Siu-tat; and activists Finn Lau, Anna Kwok and Elmer Yuen.

They are currently self-exiled in the US, Britain, Canada and Australia after some were earlier accused of various crimes and offences.

Steven Li, chief superintendent of the police’s National Security Department , confirmed the issuance of arrest warrants against the eight activists under the National Security Law.

He admitted that the Hong kong authorities will not be able to bring them to the court if they remain overseas but urged them to return to Hong Kong and surrender in return for a reduction in their sentences.

Li stated that the international arrest warrants and rewards are not meant to cause anxiety but are a manifestation of ‘’ law enforcement’.

He cited articles of the security law which state that police have extraterritorial jurisdiction and said they would pursue overseas people who pose a threat to Hong Kong’s national security.

The news conference was held after the issuance, in the state-owned Ta Kung Pao newspaper, an editorial emphasising that the International Security Law also affects people outside the territories of Hong Kong .The editorial also stated that China, as a member of Interpol, has the right to request assistance from other countries in arresting fugitives.