7 HK fugitives stripped of their passports

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government has revoked the passports of seven fugitives wanted for engaging in activities that endangered national security, and placed six other individuals on the wanted list on suspicion of violating national security laws.

The seven listed absconders are former legislators Ted Hui Chi-fung and Dennis Kwok Wing-hang, businessman Elmer Yuan Gong-yi, and lawyers Kevin Yam Kin-fung, Frances Hui Wing-ting, Anna Kwok Fung-yee and Joey Siu Nam.

"They are all living overseas," Secretary for Security of the HKSAR Chris Tang Ping-keung said at a news conference on Tuesday, adding that members of the public are prohibited from providing them with money, handling their funds, or engaging in any property dealings, joint ventures or partnerships with them.

The same rules apply for the six suspected offenders on the wanted list, each of whom carries a reward of HK$1 million ($128,742) on their head for information leading to an arrest.

The licenses for legal practice of Dennis Kwok and Yam have been suspended, while Yuan has been temporarily removed from his directorial positions in local companies.

The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, which was enacted on March 23, grants the secretary for security the authority to specify people suspected of jeopardizing national security and believed to have fled overseas as "absconders" and imposed restrictive measures on them.

Arrest warrants for Ted Hui, Yuan, Dennis Kwok, Anna Kwok and Yam were issued on July 3 last year for allegedly violating the National Security Law for Hong Kong, while arrest warrants for Frances Hui and Siu were issued on Dec 14 last year. The seven had fled to the United States or Australia before the warrants were issued.

Tang said the seven absconders continue to engage in activities that endanger national security, inciting separatism and calling on foreign governments to impose sanctions on the nation and the HKSAR.

The senior official said that Ted Hui has colluded with foreign politicians to threaten national security and profited from his actions, 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.

A government spokesperson emphasized that the seizure only targets those who have committed and profited from offenses that endanger national security and does not impact law-abiding residents and businesses of the SAR.

At the news conference, Hong Kong police confirmed that, at their request, the court had issued arrest warrants for six more people accused of committing offenses under the National Security Law for Hong Kong, bringing the total number of people wanted for allegedly violating the law to 19.

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 that the force will continue to investigate related cases and pursue those who threaten national security regardless of where they are.

On Tuesday, Mao Ning, a spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry, backed Hong Kong's move against the fugitives, saying that 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 said 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.

Implemented on June 30, 2020, the National Security Law for Hong Kong 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 who commit five types of acts that endanger national security, including treason, theft of State secrets and espionage.

amberwu@chinadailyhk.com