Hong Kong authorities have placed bounties on the heads of five pro-democracy activists living abroad, offering HK$1 million for information leading to their arrest.
“It still seems surreal to be on the wanted list with a reward,” Simon Cheng, a 33-year-old pro-democracy activist and political refugee based in London, told The Post. “It’s ridiculous because my request is really humble and legitimate: to hope that Hong Kong citizens can elect a political leader.”
Cheng and four other activists are charged with collusion with foreign forces and inciting secession for their pro-democracy activism abroad.
“This reward is an attempt to name and shame anyone who is disobedient and try to isolate them and make them financially vulnerable and isolate them from anyone who supports them,” Cheng explained.
Hong Kong police, who claim the activists “all betrayed their own country,” are offering the equivalent of $128,000 for information leading to the arrest of the dissidents, and have warned they will be persecuted for life.
Simon Cheng is among five names included on Hong Kong’s reward list. Courtesy of Simon Cheng
“Actually, it doesn’t surprise me because I’ve spoken a lot abroad and I’m still critical of the government,” said Cheng, founder of the nonprofit HongkongersUK. “Sooner or later I was going to be a target because I am making noise internationally.”
It is just the latest move in Hong Kong to crack down on pro-democracy agitators. Authorities have targeted activists under the National Security Law of 2020, which allows them to arrest anyone accused of endangering national security.
“‘Endangering national security’ can mean virtually anything,” according to Amnesty International, which says “the law has been abused from day one.”
Frances Hui has been a pro-democracy activist since she was 14 years old. frances.huii/Instagram
Frances Hui, a 24-year-old pro-democracy activist, was included among the rewards. She was forced to flee Hong Kong when the National Security Law was passed in 2020.
Hui has been an activist since the age of 14, when she joined the student organization Scholarist and, while wearing her schoolgirl uniform, protested in solidarity with the 2014 pro-democracy Umbrella Protests in Hong Kong, which ended with hundreds of arrests and injuries.
“It is not about political issues when people demonstrating peacefully were beaten bloodily and criminalized,” Hui said. “It was very different from what I grew up with and was a threat to freedom of expression itself. “It is a basic human right to be able to tell the truth and share ideas, and that was taken away from us.”
Hong Kong was rocked by large protests in 2019, leading to mass arrests. AP
While studying journalism at Emerson College in Boston, Hui gained international attention for organizing protests in solidarity with pro-democracy demonstrations in his country. He returned to Hong Kong after graduating, but soon had to flee to the United States to avoid arrest.
Hui currently lives in Washington, DC, where she works as a policy and advocacy coordinator for the Freedom Community Foundation in Hong Kong.
Although he anticipated a reward could be offered for her, he tells the Post that “it’s still very shocking” that a price would be placed on her head.
“One million Hong Kong dollars is quite substantial. is more than [is listed for] a child rapist or a murderer in Hong Kong, which is crazy,” Hui told The Post. “Obviously it is an act of intimidation. “They want to scare you.”
Frances Hui organized pro-democracy protests in support of Hong Kong while she was a student in the United States. frances.huii/Instagram
In response, it is upgrading its personal security system in DC and working to reduce its digital footprint. But she is more concerned about his acquaintances in her country than about her own personal safety in the United States.
“It won’t change my life here, but it will affect my connections in Hong Kong. They are trying to isolate us from the people on the ground by turning us into fugitives,” she explained. “The arrest warrant is spread throughout Hong Kong. It is broadcast on television channels. “People walking down the street will probably see my face.”
Cheng, who was forced to cut ties with his family after seeking refuge in the UK, is also worried for those back home: “I worry that one day my parents or my relatives might get into trouble just because of me.” activities abroad.
Pro-democracy protesters took to the streets of Hong Kong with umbrellas in 2014. AFP via Getty Images
He also fears for his personal safety in London, where Hong Kong pro-democracy activists have faced threats and physical attacks.
“I’m worried about surveillance, secret agents and informants,” he said. “It is difficult to trust other people because of totalitarian tactics, even abroad. You always have to worry about whether people are trustworthy.”
Cheng used to work as a trade and investment officer at the British consulate and was arrested by Chinese authorities in 2019, when he alleges he was tortured over suspicions he was a British spy who instigated pro-democracy protests.
After speaking out about his torture in the media, Cheng was forced to flee Hong Kong and seek refuge in London in 2019.
Simon Cheng has been granted refuge in the United Kingdom. Courtesy of Simon Cheng
There he founded an organization called HongkongersUK, which helps political dissidents relocate and integrate in Britain with everything from yoga classes to information sessions on buying property.
“It’s really important to build a diaspora community to have more vibrant voices for democracy,” Cheng said. “The entire community has been targeted by the Chinese regime and that is why we must remain united. “We cannot be isolated.”
He received news of the reward a day after flying from Taiwan to London.
“I actually felt very lucky when I heard the news, because I had just passed through China and Hong Kong airspace the day before,” he said.
Simon Cheng says a co-worker was notified of a government-backed attack on an email account after the bounty. Courtesy of Simon Cheng
Within days of the order, a HongkongersUK colleague was informed of a government-backed attack on his Google account, which Cheng suspects was state-sponsored private hackers working for the Chinese government.
Now he worries that the reward could make Hong Kong people (and their fellow dissidents abroad) more cautious about joining the fight for democracy.
“One effect of the national security law in Hong Kong is that it is actually less free here in the UK,” he said. “It has a chilling effect abroad because people in Hong Kong might be afraid to associate with me.”
But Cheng won’t be deterred by the reward.
Frances Hui says the reward will not affect her activism. Courtesy of Francis Hiu
“I have already decided that, no matter how difficult it is, I will continue speaking,” he said. “There is no turning back as an activist. The only way forward is to repeal this repressive law so that my people have basic freedom and dignity.”
Hui agrees.
“Nothing is going to change thanks to this reward,” he said. “I’m not going to comply and stay silent.”
Categories: Trending
Source: vtt.edu.vn