The six people, including former lawmaker Nathan Law, are also banned from any business relationships and financial transactions.
Hong Kong has canceled the passports of six pro-democracy activists in exile abroad under its new internal security law, calling them “lawless wanted criminals.”
The government said that in addition to canceling the travel documents of the “fugitives”, the six people were also banned from any commercial transactions in Hong Kong, including financial transactions ranging from cash to gold .
“These lawless wanted criminals are hiding in the UK and continue to blatantly engage in activities that endanger national security,” a government spokesperson said in a statement on Wednesday.
“They also make alarmist remarks to defame and slander the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. More so, they continue to collude with outside forces to protect their evil deeds. So we took measures to deal them a serious blow.
The six men, accused of crimes against national security in Hong Kong and wanted by police, include former legislator Nathan Law and Simon Cheng, an employee of the British consulate, who was detained for 15 days in China in August 2019. The others are activist Finn Lau, labor rights activist Christopher Mung, Fok Ka-chi and Choi Ming-da, according to the statement.
Writing on social media platform He said he never applied for or had a passport for the country. HKSAR, the official name of Hong Kong.
“The act of repression does not prevent me from defending human rights and democracy,” he wrote. “The fighting spirit of Hong Kongers, including mine, remains.”
The territory’s legislature passed the security law, known as Section 23in March, adding to a security law imposed by Beijing in July 2020 following sometimes violent mass protests.
Hong Kong and Beijing say these laws have helped stabilize the territory. Critics say they have decimated Hong Kong’s freedoms.
The government statement also warned the people of Hong Kong that providing any form of financial assistance to the six people, or having business dealings with them, constituted an offense punishable by a potential prison sentence of seven years.
Some activists have Patreon accounts.
Hong Kong police have offered to pay up to 1 million Hong Kong dollars ($128,000) to anyone who provides information leading to the arrest of 13 people. pro-democracy activists living abroadincluding the six men whose passports were cancelled.
