Earth Science News
DEMOCRACY
Hong Kong police issue fresh bounties for activists overseas
Hong Kong police issue fresh bounties for activists overseas
by AFP Staff Writers
Hong Kong (AFP) Dec 24, 2024

Hong Kong police announced bounties on Tuesday of HK$1 million (around $130,000) for information leading to the arrest of six democracy advocates based overseas and accused of national security crimes.

Authorities also said they would cancel the passports of seven others for whom bounties had already been issued, including ex-lawmakers Ted Hui and Dennis Kwok, local media said.

Political dissent in Hong Kong has been quashed since Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law in 2020 after huge, sometimes violent pro-democracy protests the year before.

Many opposition figures fled abroad, while others have been arrested and sentenced to years in jail.

Tuesday's announcement is the third time authorities have offered rewards of HK$1 million for help capturing those alleged to have violated the city's national security laws.

The two previous rounds of bounties in July and December last year were met with intense criticism from Western countries, with Hong Kong and China in turn railing against "interference" from foreign countries.

The bounties are seen as largely symbolic given that they affect people living abroad in nations unlikely to extradite political activists to Hong Kong or China.

Five of the six people targeted on Tuesday are accused of inciting secession and collusion with a foreign country or external forces.

They range from 29-year-old Carmen Lau, a former district councillor now living in Britain, to former pollster Chung Kim-wah.

Victor Ho Leung-mau, a 69-year-old YouTuber who is now based in Canada, is charged with subversion.

"I just learned that I am now a wanted Hong Konger," Lau wrote on social media platform X.

"In 2019, (I) was not afraid of tear gas and bullets, and now I do not and will not back down only because of an arrest warrant and a bounty."

Hong Kong has previously cancelled the passports of other pro-democracy activists on its wanted list under its second national security law enacted in March.

China's foreign ministry said on Tuesday it supported Hong Kong "performing its duties in accordance with the law".

"Hong Kong is a society governed by the rule of law and no one has extrajudicial privileges," spokeswoman Mao Ning said.

Human Rights Watch, an NGO, in turn called the bounties "a cowardly act of intimidation".

"We call on the UK and Canadian governments to act immediately to push back against the Hong Kong government's attempts to threaten HongKongers living in their countries," associate China director Maya Wang said in a statement.

Related Links
Democracy in the 21st century at TerraDaily.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
DEMOCRACY
France's Macron announces fourth government of the year
Paris (AFP) Dec 23, 2024
French President Emmanuel Macron named a new government Monday evening, putting together a team under Francois Bayrou, his fourth prime minister of the year, to drag the second-largest EU economy out of political crisis. Macron named former prime minister Elisabeth Borne, 63, education minister in a new cabinet under centrist Bayrou. Another former premier, Manuel Valls, 62, returned as overseas territories minister, while former interior minister Gerald Darmanin became justice minister. Bot ... read more

DEMOCRACY
Japan's Wajima craftmakers see hope in disaster-hit region

What we know about disappearance of four Ecuadoran minors

Felipe VI urges Spain to learn from floods in Christmas message

Blogs to Bluesky: social media shifts responses after 2004 tsunami

DEMOCRACY
Transforming education with virtual reality and artificial intelligence

Unlocking new potential in 2D superconducting polymers

Materials with unexpected electronic properties found in twisted layers

HKUST unveils high-speed thermal-electric aerosol printer for piezoelectric biofilm production

DEMOCRACY
New study highlights critical decline in shark and ray populations since 1970

One dead in Ecuador, Peru ports closed amid massive waves

Key public service makes quiet return in Gaza

Saving the mysterious African manatee at Cameroon hotspot

DEMOCRACY
ESA and NASA collaborate to track Greenland ice sheet melting

One of the largest glacial floods ever documented observed in Greenland

Seals use icebergs as essential platforms in glacier ecosystems

Most arctic coastal infrastructure faces risk of instability by 2100

DEMOCRACY
Russia-Ukraine War's unexpected casualties: Hungry people in distant nations

Early warning system aims to curb locust swarms

China launches investigation into beef imports

The energy return on investment of global agriculture

DEMOCRACY
French premier promises concrete aid for cyclone-hit Mayotte

Tears, prayers as Asia mourns tsunami dead 20 years on

Tens of thousands protest over Spain flood response

The tsunami detection buoys safeguarding lives in Thailand

DEMOCRACY
10 civilians killed in 'accidential' Nigerian army strike

France hands over first base in Chad amid withdrawal

US says kills two Al-Shabaab fighters in airstrike; Gabon jails eight officers over torture

DR Congo president makes changes at top of armed forces

DEMOCRACY
Catholics hold muted Christmas mass in Indonesia's Sharia stronghold

Travelers consider weight-based airfares for sustainable flights

US passes defense bill banning gender care for minors; UK to compensate LGBTQ veterans sacked

Earliest ritual space in southwest asia discovered in Galilee cave

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.