Hong Kong’s national security police have announced a reward for six “fugitives”

The Hong Kong the administration has issued awards to six supporters of democracy in exile under draconian national security laws canceled passports seven other campaign participants.

Hong Kong police have issued arrest warrants and announced a HK$1 million (£102,700) reward for information on each of the six activists accused of crimes such as secession, subversion and collusion with foreign forces.

The list includes Tony Chung, former leader of the now-defunct pro-independence group Studentlocalism; UK-based Carmen Lau, a former district councilor and current activist at the Hong Kong Democracy Council; British commentator Chung Kim Wah and Chloe Cheng, an activist with the Freedom Committee in Hong Kong.

The other two activists are former actor Joseph Tay, who co-founded the Canadian NGO Hong Konger Station, and Canadian YouTuber Victor Ho.

The six were named in the third round of arrest warrants and rewards issued to pro-democracy activists since the former British colony began offering rewards to exiled dissidents in July 2023. Tuesday’s arrest warrants bring the total number of people wanted to 19, including former lawmakers Dennis Kwok and Ted Hui, along with prominent activists Nathan Lowe and Simon Cheng.

The decision to add more names to Hong Kong’s wanted list comes as the city seeks to revive economic growth and restore its international reputation after years of suppression of dissent which caused worldwide criticism.

Critics have accused the Chinese government of suppressing dissent with national security laws introduced in 2020 after pro-democracy protests that make it easier to arrest and detain protesters.

“(I) will not back down just because of an arrest warrant and a reward,” Carmen Lau wrote on X. “And I hope that each of you will stand with me in this fight for Hong Kong.”

Chloe Cheng, 19, wrote on Instagram: “Fear can’t hold me back and suppression can’t silence me.”

Police previously warned the public against financial support for activists and said they risk breaking the law by doing so.

Chris Tang, the security minister, said the six activists had engaged in activities such as giving speeches, posting on social media and lobbying for foreign governments to impose sanctions on Hong Kong officials and judges, thus endangering national security.

China’s national security office in Hong Kong said it supported the actions because the individuals had engaged in “anti-Chinese” and destabilizing activities. Others were believed to be in favor of Hong Kong independence from China.

The secretary said the ads with black-and-white photographs of the “fugitives” were posted in public places such as the international airport.

Nathan Lowe, 2018 Nobel Peace Prize nominee, told before The Independent tit was severe mental anguish, and “the fact that the reward is a signal that the (Hong Kong) government is stepping up its intimidation.”

“Therefore, the likelihood of encountering a kind of cross-border kidnapping grows and grows only because of how diligent and aggressive the Chinese government’s position is,” he added.

Maya Wang, assistant China director of Human Rights Watch, said on Tuesday: “The Hong Kong government’s latest round of arrest warrants and rewards against six Hong Kong activists is a cowardly act of intimidation aimed at silencing the people of Hong Kong.

“We call on the UK and Canadian governments to act immediately to counter the Hong Kong government’s attempts to threaten Hong Kongers living in their countries.”

Additional reporting by agencies