The National Security Department Chief Superintendent Steve Li Kwai-wah said at a press conference today (July 3) that since the implementation of the National Security Law, so far Hong Kong Police have arrested 260 people, including 198 men and 62 women, aged 15 to 90, of which 79 people were convicted or awaiting sentencing. Li reiterated that the violation of the National Security Law will not be tolerated.
Li pointed out that HK police are offering HK$1 million rewards for information leading to the arrests of eight opposition figures currently overseas who have been accused of violating National Security Law.
The eight suspects are former legislators Nathan Law Kwun-chung, Dennis Kwok Wing-hang and Ted Hui Chi-fung, unionist Mung Siu-tat, lawyer Kevin Yam Kin-fung, and activists Finn Lau Cho-dik, Anna Kwok Fung-yee and Elmer Yuan Gong-yi. They are currently based in Canada, Australia, the United States and Britain.
A 46-year-old man, Yam Kevin, is suspected of colluding with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security.
The case points to the fact that he has repeatedly colluded with anti-Chinese politician groups overseas, meeting with overseas officials to attend so-called hearings and requesting foreign countries to "sanction" HK judges and prosecutors. In November and December 2022, Yam Kevin met foreign government officials to instigate "sanctions" to be imposed by foreign countries against officials of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region ("HKSAR") Government. In May 2023, in a hearing held by a foreign authority, Yam also urged foreign countries to impose "sanctions" against personnel of the Judiciary and prosecutors of the HKSAR.
Yuan Gongyi, 74, was charged with "Subversion" and "Collusion" with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security".
Between July 2020 and May 2023, through different platforms and means, Yuan Gong-yi repeatedly urged foreign countries to impose "sanctions" against officials of the HKSAR Government and personnel of the Judiciary and engaged in other hostile activities against the HKSAR. Between July 2022 and May 2023, Yuan formed a body of power named "The Hong Kong Parliament" to launch a "referendum" in order to achieve "self-determination" and subvert the State power.
A woman, Kwok Fung-yee, is suspected of collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security.
Between September 2021 and February 2022, Kwok Fung-yee attended meetings and campaigns in foreign countries as a core member of the "Hong Kong Democracy Council" and met foreign politicians and government officials to call for "sanctions" or blockade to be imposed, and other hostile activities to be engaged in against the People's Republic of China and the HKSAR.
The man, Kwok Wing-hang, 45, is suspected of colluding with foreign forces to endanger national security.
In September 2021, Kwok Wing-hang wrote in a report published by an organisation outside Hong Kong to voice his support for a series of "policy recommendation" in the report to urge governments across the globe to impose "sanctions" or blockade, and engage in other hostile activities against the People’s Republic of China and the HKSAR. In December 2022, in a meeting held by an organisation outside Hong Kong, KWOK also appealed for imposing financial sanctions and engaging in other hostile activities against the HKSAR.
The man, Hui Chi-fung, 41, is suspected of "Incitement to secession", "Incitement to subversion" and "Collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security".
Since March 2021, Hui Chi-fung, jointly with others, has initiated the "2021 Hong Kong Charter" and repeatedly advocated "Taiwan independence", "Hong Kong independence" and the overthrow of the basic system of the People's Republic of China established by the Constitution of the People's Republic of China through social media platforms. Between January 2021 and December 2022, Hui published posts on social media to urge foreign countries to impose "sanctions" and engage in other hostile activities against the People's Republic of China and the HKSAR Government.
A 51-year-old man, Mung Siu-tat, is suspected of inciting secession. Under the guise of defending labor rights, he actually advocated for "Hong Kong's independence" through social media and attending conferences overseas.
In June 2022, in a meeting held by an organisation outside Hong Kong, Mung Siu-tat smeared the Central People’s Government and the HKSAR Government and advocated separating the HKSAR from the People's Republic of China.
Lau Cho-dik, 29, is suspected of colluding foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security. He colluded with anti-Chinese politicians and organizations overseas and requested foreign countries to impose "sanctions" on China.
Between July 2020 and June 2021, through various kind of platforms and establishing the "Hong Kong Liberty", Lau Cho-dik continuously urged foreign countries to impose "sanctions" or blockade, or engage in other hostile activities against the People's Republic of China and the HKSAR.
The man, Law Kwun-chung, 29, is suspected of inciting secession and colluding with foreign forces to endanger national security. He advocated "Hong Kong independence" through various platforms overseas. He colluded with anti-Chinese politicians and organizations, including attending so-called hearings in foreign countries and on official occasions, requesting foreign countries to impose "sanctions" on China.
Between July 2020 and November 2022, Law Kwun-chung, through various means including attending hearings, meeting foreign politicians, participating in media interviews, issuing open letters, taking part in petitions and publishing posts or videos on social media, advocated separating the HKSAR from the People's Republic of China and urged foreign countries to impose "sanctions" or blockade, or engage in other hostile activities against the People's Republic of China and the HKSAR.
A spokesman for the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region said that the HKSAR Government supports the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force (NSD) in taking actions in accordance with the law, pursuant to arrest warrants issued in respect of eight persons who have absconded overseas and allegedly committed offences under the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the HKSAR (National Security Law), to list those persons at large as wanted persons.
"The HKSAR Government steadfastly safeguards national sovereignty, security and development interests, and unswervingly, fully and faithfully implements the top principle of 'one country, two systems'. It is the constitutional responsibility of the HKSAR to safeguard national security, and it is the common responsibility of all the people of China, including the people of Hong Kong, to safeguard the sovereignty, unification and territorial integrity of the People's Republic of China. The HKSAR Government shall proactively prevent, suppress and impose punishment for any act and activity endangering national security in accordance with the National Security Law and other relevant laws," the spokesman said.
"Endangering national security is a very serious offence. The HKSAR Government will fight against it in full force and pursue the liability of these persons to the end. The eight persons concerned who have fled overseas are alleged to have continued to commit offences under the National Security Law that seriously endanger national security. The Police have the responsibility to take all necessary measures in accordance with the law to arrest the persons related to the cases and bring them to justice."
"The fugitives should not have any delusion that they could evade their legal liabilities by absconding from Hong Kong. They ultimately have to bear responsibility and face the sanctions of the law for their serious illegal acts endangering national security," the spokesman emphasised.
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