Hong Kong’s move to offer a bounty of HK$1 million (US$127,600) each for the capture of eight self-exiled activists will send the world “a strong message” that anyone who violates the national security law will be hunted for a lifetime, according to the city’s leader.
Throwing his weight behind the police action and stressing the government would not be deterred by the reactions of other countries, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Tuesday also called on those – including relatives of the eight wanted persons – to provide information on the suspects’ whereabouts, guaranteeing they would be rewarded accordingly.
“Police should do it because that’s the message not just to Hong Kong, but to those who try to endanger our national security. And we want them to know that we will not sit and do nothing,” warned Lee before the weekly meeting with his advisers in key decision-making body the Executive Council.
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“We’ll be pursuing the [suspects’] criminal responsibilities for life until they surrender themselves,” Lee added.
The force announced on Monday HK$1 million each for information leading to eight opposition activists: former legislators Nathan Law Kwun-chung, Dennis Kwok Wing-hang and Ted Hui Chi-fung, unionist Mung Siu-tat, lawyer Kevin Yam Kin-fung, and activists Finn Lau Cho-dik, Anna Kwok Fung-yee and Elmer Yuan Gong-yi.
But critics questioned the effectiveness of the bounty given the countries these activists currently reside in – Australia, Britain and the United States – had suspended extradition treaties with Hong Kong following Beijing’s imposition of the national security law on the city in 2020, with political crimes also usually exempted under such deals.
Who are the 8 Hongkongers wanted over national security with HK$1 million bounties?
The move also immediately sparked condemnation from the three countries, with the US saying the extraterritorial application of the national security law was a “dangerous precedent” that threatened human rights while Britain vowed it would not tolerate any attempts by China to intimidate individuals in its country and overseas.
Australian foreign minister Penny Wong, who met Hui and Yam in January, also said her government would support those in the country who exercise their rights.
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On Tuesday, US-sanctioned Hong Kong leader Lee vowed his government’s determination to go after the suspects would not be affected by the reaction of foreign administrations.
He also sidestepped a question on whether the high-profile bounty was prompted by a recent campaign by overseas groups to bar him from attending the Apec summit in San Francisco in November.
“[What] overseas politicians or officials say will not in any way change our strong belief in the need to uphold protection of national security. I know they have been doing things for their own political reasons, for their own political gains,” Lee said.
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“I’m not afraid of any political pressure that is put on us because we do what we believe is right.”
In an obvious rebuttal of the US statement, Lee also maintained that extraterritorial powers existed in the national security laws of other countries.
More from South China Morning Post:
- Hong Kong national security law: police offer HK$1 million rewards for arrest of 8 people, including 3 ex-lawmakers
- Hong Kong national security law: who are the 8 targeted with HK$1 million bounties? Calls for sanctions, links to 2019 protests among alleged offences
- Hong Kong and Beijing condemn 8 members of EU Parliament for slandering national security law and calling for sanctions
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