The US and UK Condemn Hong Kong's Actions to Intimidate Political Activists Abroad

On Thursday, the Hong Kong police announced rewards for information leading to the arrest of five political activists abroad, which was met with swift condemnation from the United States and the United Kingdom. According to France 24 news network, these activists fled abroad after the implementation of China's national security law in 2020, following the suppression of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. Hong Kong officials have set rewards worth one million Hong Kong dollars for any information leading to the arrest of these five activists, who are accused of 'actions against national security.' Hong Kong authorities claim that 'they have betrayed the country, disregarded the interests of the people of Hong Kong, and continue to endanger national security, even abroad.' The Hong Kong police have accused these political activists of 'inciting secession' and 'colluding with foreign governments,' charges that could lead to life imprisonment. David Cameron, the UK Foreign Secretary, reacted to this action by stating that he has instructed British officials in Hong Kong, Beijing, and London to pursue this matter 'immediately.' A spokesperson for the US State Department also stated on Wednesday, 'Supporters of democracy and freedom will continue to enjoy the freedoms guaranteed in their constitution in the United States.' Matthew Miller emphasized, 'We regret any attempts to impose Beijing's national security law extraterritorially and reiterate that Hong Kong officials have no jurisdiction within the borders of the United States.' Last July, the Hong Kong police also accused eight political activists based abroad of serious national security crimes and announced rewards for information leading to their arrests. US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping are scheduled to meet on November 16 on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco to discuss a range of issues, including human rights concerns in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong, as well as the One China policy regarding Taiwan.