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Four Australian residents are now facing overseas arrest warrants issued by Hong Kong’s national security police, after a fresh announcement concerning support for a pro-democracy party in the state’s parliament.
Australian citizen Chongyi Feng and resident Wong Sau-Wo are accused of having launched a referendum or run as candidates in the unofficial “Hong Kong Parliament” group.
They are among 19 activists who are are accused of organising or participating in the group that authorities in the Asian financial hub say aims at achieving self-determination and drafting a “Hong Kong constitution”.
Authorities say the group aims to subvert state power, under the law Beijing imposed in 2020 following months of pro-democracy protests in 2019.
There is a bounty of at least HK$200,000 ($38,807) for each of the activists.
Yam, who is a legal scholar, and Hui, a former Hong Kong Democracy party MP, were among eight overseas-based activists who authorities accused of national security offences, including foreign collusion and incitement to secession.
At that time, police had also announced rewards of HK$1 million ($194,000) for information that could lead to each arrest.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has reacted to the announcement, saying “Australia strongly objects to Hong Kong authorities issuing arrest warrants for pro-democracy advocates in Australia.”
“Freedom of expression and assembly are essential to our democracy,” she wrote on social media platform X on Saturday
“We have consistently expressed our strong objections to China and Hong Kong on the broad and extraterritorial application of Hong Kong’s national security legislation, and we will continue to do so.”
SBS News has contacted the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to request a statement.
Hong Kong’s national security law
Feng has told SBS News that, while he feels safe being in Australia, the federal government must remain cautious in its interactions with China.
“So we need to be fully aware of the nature of (China’s) authoritarian regime when dealing with Xi Jinping or the People’s Republic of China.”
He says many of his friends in Hong Kong have been jailed due to the state’s national security law, which makes perceived political subversion a serious offence.
Critics of the national security law say authorities are using it to stifle dissent.
Chinese and Hong Kong officials have repeatedly said the law was vital to restore stability after the city was rocked for months by sometimes violent anti-government and anti-China protests in 2019.
“I feel quite sad that the autonomy of Hong Kong, of basic human rights in Hong Kong, and democracy in Hong Kong have all been destroyed by the implementation of the national security law,” Feng said.
Police reiterated that national security offences were serious crimes with extraterritorial reach and urged the wanted individuals to return to Hong Kong and turn themselves in.
“If offenders voluntarily give up continuing to violate the crime, turn themselves in, truthfully confess their crimes, or provide key information that helps solve other cases, they may be eligible for reduced punishment,” they said in a statement.
Police also warned that aiding, abetting, or funding others to participate in the “Hong Kong Parliament” could be a criminal offence.
Additional reporting by Wing Kuang and the Reuters News Agency.
