Hong Kong Leader Carrie Lam Announces Pursuit of Eight Pro-Democracy Activists Living Abroad for Alleged National Security Offenses

Hong Kong’s leader, Carrie Lam, has announced that eight pro-democracy activists living in the United States, Britain, Canada, and Australia will be pursued for life for alleged national security offenses. The activists are accused of serious offenses such as foreign collusion and incitement to secession.

In response to the accusations, Hong Kong police have issued wanted notices and rewards of 1 million Hong Kong dollars ($127,656) each for information leading to any arrest. The assets of the accused will be frozen where possible, and the public has been warned not to support them financially or face the risk of violating the law.

At a weekly media briefing, Lam said anyone, including friends and relatives, who offered information leading to the arrest of the accused would be eligible for the bounties offered by the police. The accused are activists Nathan Law, Anna Kwok and Finn Lau, former lawmakers Dennis Kwok and Ted Hui, lawyer and legal scholar Kevin Yam, unionist Mung Siu-tat, and online commentator Yuan Gong-yi.

Lam said the only way for the accused to end their destiny of being an absconder who will be pursued for life is to surrender. The move has been met with criticism from human rights groups, who have argued that it sets a dangerous precedent.

The situation has been closely watched by the international community, as it is seen as a test of Hong Kong’s autonomy and commitment to the rule of law. It remains to be seen how the situation will develop in the coming weeks and months.