Hong Kong police have issued rewards of HK$1m (£100,400; $128,000) for information leading to the apprehension of five pro-democracy activists, including Simon Cheng, a former UK consulate employee embroiled in a high-profile 2019 case.

The others targeted are Frances Hui, Joey Siu, Johnny Fok, and Tony Choi, all facing accusations of violating the stringent National Security Law.

The US and UK, where some of the activists reside, condemned the move.

The individuals are charged with offenses like "inciting secession" and "colluding with foreign forces" to jeopardize national security.

National Security Department Chief Superintendent Li Kwai-wah stated at a press conference that these activists had "sold their country and Hong Kong" and vowed to pursue them relentlessly.

Despite being detained for two weeks in mainland China in 2019, Simon Cheng, who was later granted asylum in the UK, responded to the bounty announcement by stating that being pursued by China (Hong Kong)'s secret police under a one-million-dollar bounty is a lifelong honor.

"If the government deems the quest for democracy and freedom a crime, we embrace the charges to reveal the genuine face of social justice, unyielding to authority," he wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

Ms Siu said on X: "I will never be silenced, I will never back down." The 24-year-old played a key role in the Hong Kong protests of 2019 before she fled to the US.

UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron has called the Hong Kong police's move "a threat to our democracy and fundamental human rights".

"We will not tolerate any attempt by any foreign power to intimidate, harass or harm individuals or communities in the UK," he said in a statement on Thursday.

Mr. Cameron added that he had instructed officials in Hong Kong, Beijing, and London to "raise this issue as a matter of urgency with the Hong Kong and Chinese authorities".

In response, the Chinese embassy in the UK said it "firmly opposes the UK side's denigration of the rule of law" in Hong Kong and "it's sheltering of persons on the wanted list and interference in Hong Kong-related affairs".

Meanwhile, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said the move shows "blatant disregard" for international norms.

"We deplore any attempt to apply the Beijing-imposed national security law extraterritorially and reiterate that Hong Kong authorities have no jurisdiction within United States borders," he said.

In July, Hong Kong announced similar bounties for eight other activists, sparking international criticism.

None of them have been arrested, though authorities have detained several people accused of supporting them.

The earlier batch of wanted activists included Nathan Law, who was Hong Kong's youngest lawmaker before he was jailed for his involvement in the pro-democracy Umbrella Protests of 2014.

Human rights group Amnesty International on Thursday called on Hong Kong to withdraw the bounties and release those accused of assisting the exiled activists.

"These bounties not only threaten the liberty and safety of the activists targeted, they also have far-reaching consequences on other activists who are now left feeling increasingly uncertain about their security, whether in Hong Kong or overseas," said Sarah Brooks, the group's deputy regional director for China.

She called on host countries of the targeted activists to "protect them against long-arm persecution by the Hong Kong authorities for simply exercising their human rights".

Close to 300 people have so far been arrested under Hong Kong's controversial National Security Law. These include Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai who is facing trial on Monday on allegations of colluding with foreign forces including the US.

The 76-year-old founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper could be sentenced to life imprisonment if convicted.

Another 47 people including the city's most prominent activists, such as Joshua Wong and Benny Tai, are also currently on trial.

Very interesting

Noted

atoluwash:

Hong Kong police have issued rewards of HK$1m (£100,400; $128,000) for information leading to the apprehension of five pro-democracy activists, including Simon Cheng, a former UK consulate employee embroiled in a high-profile 2019 case.

The others targeted are Frances Hui, Joey Siu, Johnny Fok, and Tony Choi, all facing accusations of violating the stringent National Security Law.

The US and UK, where some of the activists reside, condemned the move.

The individuals are charged with offenses like "inciting secession" and "colluding with foreign forces" to jeopardize national security.

National Security Department Chief Superintendent Li Kwai-wah stated at a press conference that these activists had "sold their country and Hong Kong" and vowed to pursue them relentlessly.

Despite being detained for two weeks in mainland China in 2019, Simon Cheng, who was later granted asylum in the UK, responded to the bounty announcement by stating that being pursued by China (Hong Kong)'s secret police under a one-million-dollar bounty is a lifelong honor.

"If the government deems the quest for democracy and freedom a crime, we embrace the charges to reveal the genuine face of social justice, unyielding to authority," he wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

Ms Siu said on X: "I will never be silenced, I will never back down." The 24-year-old played a key role in the Hong Kong protests of 2019 before she fled to the US.

UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron has called the Hong Kong police's move "a threat to our democracy and fundamental human rights".

"We will not tolerate any attempt by any foreign power to intimidate, harass or harm individuals or communities in the UK," he said in a statement on Thursday.

Mr. Cameron added that he had instructed officials in Hong Kong, Beijing, and London to "raise this issue as a matter of urgency with the Hong Kong and Chinese authorities".

In response, the Chinese embassy in the UK said it "firmly opposes the UK side's denigration of the rule of law" in Hong Kong and "it's sheltering of persons on the wanted list and interference in Hong Kong-related affairs".

Meanwhile, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said the move shows "blatant disregard" for international norms.

"We deplore any attempt to apply the Beijing-imposed national security law extraterritorially and reiterate that Hong Kong authorities have no jurisdiction within United States borders," he said.

In July, Hong Kong announced similar bounties for eight other activists, sparking international criticism.

None of them have been arrested, though authorities have detained several people accused of supporting them.

The earlier batch of wanted activists included Nathan Law, who was Hong Kong's youngest lawmaker before he was jailed for his involvement in the pro-democracy Umbrella Protests of 2014.

Human rights group Amnesty International on Thursday called on Hong Kong to withdraw the bounties and release those accused of assisting the exiled activists.

"These bounties not only threaten the liberty and safety of the activists targeted, they also have far-reaching consequences on other activists who are now left feeling increasingly uncertain about their security, whether in Hong Kong or overseas," said Sarah Brooks, the group's deputy regional director for China.

She called on host countries of the targeted activists to "protect them against long-arm persecution by the Hong Kong authorities for simply exercising their human rights".

Close to 300 people have so far been arrested under Hong Kong's controversial National Security Law. These include Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai who is facing trial on Monday on allegations of colluding with foreign forces including the US.

The 76-year-old founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper could be sentenced to life imprisonment if convicted.

Another 47 people including the city's most prominent activists, such as Joshua Wong and Benny Tai, are also currently on trial.

Waow that's interesting