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Foreign Secretary warns China on intimidation

A bounty put on the head of a pro-democracy campaigner who fled Hong Kong has made his more dangerous, the BBC has been told.

Nathan Law is among eight exiled activists wanted by Hong Kong police and exiled in Britain.

Hong Kong authorities are offering rewards of  Stg£100,581 for information leading to their capture. The eight are all based in countries that do not have extradition treaties with China, namely Britain, the US and Australia.

"They have committed very serious offences that endanger national security," Steven Li, chief superintendent of the Hong Kong national security department, said.

The chase

He commented that while Hong Kong police could not arrest them while they remained abroad, they would not stop chasing them.

Law told the BBC he needs to be "more careful" about divulging his whereabouts as a result of the bounty.

"There could possibly be someone in the UK – or anywhere else – to provide informations of me [to the Hong Kong authorities]. For example, my whereabouts, where they could possibly extradite me when I'm transiting in certain countries," Law told the BBC.

"All these things may put my life into dangerous situations if I'm not careful enough of who I meet or where I go. It makes me have to live in a more careful life."

‘Colluding with foreign forces’

The eight activists targeted are accused of colluding with foreign forces, which carries a life sentence upon conviction under Hong Kong's draconian security law, imposed three years ago after pro-democracy protests 2019.

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said that Britain would "not tolerate any attempts by China to intimidate and silence individuals in the UK and overseas."

"We call on Beijing to remove the National Security Law and for the Hong Kong authorities to end their targeting of those who stand up for freedom and democracy," he said in a statement today.

Hundreds of pro-democracy campaigners have already been arrested and convicted in Hong Kong under the laws.

Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong said that her government was "deeply disappointed" by the announcement and said that Australia "remains deeply concerned by the continuing erosion of Hong Kong's rights, freedoms and autonomy." 

The other six activists named in the announcement are: Ted Hui, Dennis Kwok, Mung Siu-tat, Elmer Yuen, Finn Law and Kevin Yam.