(12 Jun 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hong Kong – 12 June 2024
1. SOUNDBITE (English) Rafael Wober, The Associated Press:
"Hong Kong authorities on Wednesday announced a series of new measures against people they’re calling absconders. In this case, it’s six Hongkongers living in the United Kingdom, former activists, as well as a prominent former legislator, Nathan Law. What does it mean? First of all, the government cancels their Hong Kong passports. Perhaps more importantly, it brings a raft of financial measures aimed at stopping other people helping them with their finances. And this could have an impact on others. For example, if somebody is found to be helping Nathan Law, by donating money, or managing money, that person could then face charges and up to seven years in prison. So the Hong Kong authorities are taking a very tough stance, and they described this move today as intended to be a ‘strong blow’ against the six in the UK."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ARCHIVE: Hong Kong – 3 July 2023
2. Various of Hong Kong police briefing announcing rewards for information leading to the arrests of overseas-based activists, with police display of images of the people in background, including Nathan Law
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ARCHIVE: Rome, Italy – 3 July 2023
3. Various of Law standing outside Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with Italian parliament members and activists, holding signs reading "We stand with Hong Kong"
STORYLINE:
The Hong Kong government on Wednesday canceled the passports of six overseas-based activists under the new national security law, stepping up its crackdown on dissidents who moved abroad.
Those affected were former pro-democracy lawmaker Nathan Law, unionist Mung Siu-tat and activists Simon Cheng, Finn Lau, Johnny Fok and Tony Choi — all accused of endangering national security by the authorities.
The government said they have “absconded” to the U.K.
Last year, police offered rewards of 1 million Hong Kong dollars ($128,000) each for information leading to their arrests and drew sharp criticism from Western governments.
According to the official statement, authorities also banned anyone from providing funds or economic resources to the six, leasing properties to them or forming any joint venture with them, among other restrictions.
Doing so without authorization would carry a penalty of up to seven years in prison.
The government said it acted because the six were continuing to engage in activities that endanger national security, smearing the city and colluding with external forces.
Secretary for Security Chris Tang said in a news briefing that some officials, politicians and media outlets in the U.K. have smeared the city’s government in an attempt to damage the rule of law in the financial hub, and tried to influence judicial decisions in some national security cases.
The six activists have been sheltered in the U.K, Tang said.
When asked whether subscribing to the activists’ accounts on Patreon and YouTube is illegal, Tang said anyone who provides funds to them would be seen as violating the rules, regardless of the platform.
These latest measures were taken under the new powers granted by Hong Kong’s homegrown national security law enacted in March.
Beijing imposed a similar national security law on the territory in 2020 that has effectively wiped out most public dissent following the huge anti-government protests in 2019. Many activists were arrested, silenced or forced into self-exile.
Additionally, the British government granted asylum to activists Law and Cheng.
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