Blinken denounces Hong Kong’s ‘bounty list’ of overseas activists

Following widespread pro-democracy protests in 2019, Beijing imposed the national security law, lower the variety of elected legislators and disqualified lawmakers it deemed unpatriotic, successfully eliminating any political opposition within the physique. The regulation criminalizes vaguely worded acts corresponding to secession, subversion and international collusion.

What to know about Hong Kong mogul Jimmy Lai’s national security trial

In a statement, Blinken mentioned that the “checklist of money awards” displayed a “disregard for worldwide norms and human rights in Hong Kong and the deterioration of that metropolis’s as soon as proud custom of respecting the rule of regulation.”

“We strongly oppose any efforts to intimidate and silence people who select to make america their residence,” he added.

Mao Ning, a Chinese language Overseas Ministry spokesperson, said to reporters Friday that “We strongly deplore and firmly oppose sure nations’ flagrant slandering in opposition to the nationwide safety regulation for Hong Kong and interference within the rule of regulation.”

Joey Siu, 24, a U.S. citizen who was a determine in mass 2019 protests, is wanted for arrest over calling for sanctions. She said on social media, “I’ll by no means be silenced, I’ll by no means again down.”

Frances Hui, 24, who was granted asylum in america, is accused of endangering nationwide safety as a result of she urged international nations to impose sanctions, blockade or “interact in different hostile actions in opposition to the Individuals’s Republic of China,” the Hong Kong police said.

Hui mentioned she would “proceed to advocate for the sanctioning of Hong Kong officers and their mouthpieces,” in an announcement posted to social media. “In spirit of Hongkongers persistence, I’ll carry on preventing,” she mentioned.

The opposite three on the checklist are Simon Cheng, 33, a former worker of the British Consulate in Hong Kong, who said he was tortured by China, plus Johnny Fok, 42, and Tony Choi, 46.

British Overseas Secretary David Cameron additionally spoke in opposition to the checklist, which incorporates people residing in the UK, and referred to as on China to repeal the nationwide safety regulation.

“We won’t tolerate any try by any international energy to intimidate, harass or hurt people or communities within the UK,” he said in a statement. “This can be a menace to our democracy and basic human rights.”

In July, Hong Kong put bounties on eight different people, together with activist Nathan Regulation, former lawmakers Dennis Kwok and Ted Hui, and authorized scholar Kevin Yam.

Hong Kong was handed from British to Chinese language rule in 1997 beneath a “one country, two systems” framework that gave it relative autonomy in authorized and different issues. The monetary middle nonetheless maintains border management and a forex that’s totally different from mainland China’s. A crackdown on 2019 protests marked the start of a brand new interval of higher Chinese language management.