Hong Kong authorities have canceled the passports of six pro-democracy activists living in self-exile in Britain.
A statement issued Wednesday identified Nathan Law, Christopher Mung Siu-tat, Simon Cheng, Johnny Fok Ka-chi and Tony Choi Ming-da as “lawless wanted criminals hiding in the United Kingdom.” The statement said the six “continue to blatantly engage in activities that endanger national security,” including making remarks that slander Hong Kong.
The government also warned that anyone who provides money, leases property or co-owns a business with the six activists could face up to seven years in jail.
Nathan Law wrote on his Facebook page that the government’s move was unnecessary since he was granted asylum in Britain in 2021.
The passports were canceled under a set of national security laws passed by the city’s legislature in March under Article 23 of Hong Kong’s Basic Law, the mini constitution that took effect when Britain handed the city back to China in 1997.
The new law covers treason, insurrection, espionage, theft of state secrets, foreign influence and interference, and sabotage, including the use of computers and electronic systems to conduct acts that endanger national security.
The Article 23 legislation goes further than a similar measure imposed on the port city by China four years ago in response to massive pro-democracy demonstrations a year earlier that left the city in turmoil. The law punished anyone in Hong Kong believed to be carrying out terrorism, separatism, subversion of state power or collusion with foreign forces.
Since the law took effect, hundreds of democracy advocates have been arrested, tried and jailed, and the city’s once-vibrant civil society has been stifled.
Hong Kong offered rewards up to $128,000 last year for information that leads to the arrest of 13 pro-democracy activists, including the six identified in Wednesday’s statement.
Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse.
