Police slap HK$200,000 bounties on 15 members of subversive ‘Hong Kong Parliament’

The city’s national security police have placed a new round of bounties on 15 overseas activists wanted for their involvement in a group called “Hong Kong Parliament”, which the force has deemed subversive and has accused it of violating the Beijing-imposed security law. The HK$200,000 (US$25,640) reward offered for each fugitive was supported by the Office for Safeguarding National Security in Hong Kong, which said the group’s actions, including holding an unlawful election “posed a serious threat to national sovereignty, security and developmental interests of the country”. The activists included members of a Taiwan-based outfit that advocates Hong Kong independence. New arrest warrants were announced on Friday for Chan Lai-chun, Feng Chongyi, Sasha Gong, Ng Man-yan and Tsang Wai-fan, who were accused of establishing a so-called parliament-in-exile in 2022. That year, the group, mainly founded and run by self-exiled activists, formed an “electoral committee” in Canada to hold elections that it said “represents, solidifies and revives Hong Kong people’s rights of self-determination”. The vote planned in 2022 was postponed to May this year. The group said 15,702 votes were cast to elect 15 members from 18 candidates for its first “parliament” and a “virtual swearing-in ceremony” was held on July 14. But five winners refused to be sworn in or announced their departure from the group after winning. Another 10 people were accused by Hong Kong national security police of taking part in the election and swearing in as so-called parliament members – Chin Po-fun, Ha Hoi-chun, Hau Chung-yu, Ho Wing-yau, Alan Keung Ka-wai, Tony Lam, Agnes Ng, Wong Chun-wah, Wong Sau-wo, and Zhang Xinyan. A bounty of HK$200,000 was placed on each of the 15 activists listed in the latest announcement. Police also singled out four other activists – Elmer Yuan Gong-yi, Victor Ho Leung-mau, Fok Ka-chi and Choi Ming-da – for founding the group. Authorities earlier placed bounties of HK$1 million on each of them. “‘Hong Kong Parliament’ aims to subvert state power by promoting ‘self-determination’ and formulating a so-called ‘Hong Kong constitution’,” police said in a statement accusing the group of violating Article 22 of the national security law, which took effect in 2020. “[The group] attempted to unlawfully overthrow and undermine the constitutional system and the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities.” The force said it was responsible for pursuing those who violated the national security law, which applied not only to companies and organisations in the city but also to permanent residents of Hong Kong who violated the law while overseas, and non-permanent residents who committed violations in the city. A source told the Post that among the 10 newly wanted persons voted into the “parliament”, six were members of the Taiwan-based Hong Kong Democratic Independence Union, a group which advocates for Hong Kong’s independence. Four members of the union, aged 15 to 47, were arrested by national security police earlier this month for conspiring to subvert state power. Its chairman, Keung, who is based in Canada, was on the wanted list issued on Friday. Keung was jailed for eight months in the city in 2023 for “conspiring to do an act or acts with seditious intent” after he advertised a photo book critical of how authorities handled the 2019 anti-government protests. “The wanted persons are urged to surrender to Hong Kong police over their roles in engaging in activities endangering national security, so as to rectify their mistakes,” a police spokesman said. “No matter in what ways, including through the internet, it is illegal for any person to aid, abet or provide pecuniary or other financial assistance or property to other persons for participating in [“Hong Kong Parliament’s”] illegal activities or committing offences which endanger national security, contravening the national security law.” The force also warned that any efforts to aid, abet or subsidise others to join activities related to “Hong Kong Parliament” were considered illegal. Lau Siu-kai, a consultant with semi-official Beijing think tank the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies, said that while the group might not have much influence, the police action was based on the illegal nature of its activities, which challenged China’s sovereignty over the city and constitutional order. “What if some foreign forces claim that this ‘parliament’ is the legitimate representation of Hong Kong people, rather than the Legislative Council?” he said. “Some of them may then use their support for this ‘parliament’ as an excuse to act against Hong Kong’s interests.” He said while the warrants might not have much practical effect, they could have a “deterrent effect” on other Hongkongers living overseas, letting them know that they should not engage in any activities that endangered national security. The move reflected that the government would not tolerate anyone undermining the city’s constitutional order and political stability, whether they were in Hong Kong or overseas, he said. “It tells foreigners and Hongkongers overseas that they will be held accountable if they do anything that affects national security and the stability of Hong Kong,” he said.

Police slap HK$200,000 bounties on 15 members of subversive ‘Hong Kong Parliament’

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}National security police also issue new arrest warrants for four more people

National security police also issue new arrest warrants for four more people