Members of Congress have condemned Hong Kong for issuing bounties on activists who no longer live there.
Hong Kong added five people to its wanted list, bringing the total to 13 since July. This list includes Simon Cheng, Frances Hui, Johnny Fok, Tony Cho, and American citizen Joey Siu. All these activists live in various countries and now face charges of incitement to secession, subversion, and collusion with foreign countries or external forces.
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"The new bounties placed on Hong Kong activists deserve global condemnation, including UN," the Congressional-Executive Commission on China said in a statement. "But it also demonstrates that the Hong Kong [government] no longer deserves 3 diplomatic outposts in US."
The new bounties placed on Hong Kong activists deserve global condemnation, including @UN. But it also demonstrates that the #HongKong govt no longer deserves 3 diplomatic outposts in US. We seek swift passage of our bill—The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Certification Act. pic.twitter.com/1ZtO0Rvhid
— China Commission (@CECCgov) December 14, 2023
Additionally, the commission is seeking to pass a bill in the House to "remove the extension of certain privileges, exemptions, and immunities to the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices" as the area appears to have lost its autonomy from China. The commission has also called for sanctions against Hong Kong.
Rep. John Curtis (R-UT) responded directly to Joey Sui, who took to X, the social media website formerly known as Twitter, to announce the arrest warrant and subsequent bounty of $128,000, which is $1,000,000 in Hong Kong dollars.
"Joey, wear it as a badge of honor," Curtis said of the warrant. "She has become the first American citizen to be targeted in this way by the Hong Kong authorities. Freedom of speech is not only enshrined in our Constitution but a universal human right. We must protect it from the CCP’s attempts to diminish it."
Joey, wear it as a badge of honor.
— Rep. John Curtis (@RepJohnCurtis) December 14, 2023
She has become the first American citizen to be targeted in this way by the Hong Kong authorities. Freedom of speech is not only enshrined in our Constitution but a universal human right. We must protect it from the CCP’s attempts to diminish… https://t.co/786q62lUCj pic.twitter.com/tL5W6tFiLb
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British Foreign Secretary David Cameron has similarly issued a statement, saying the United Kingdom "will not tolerate" any action against the other four activists on the list who now reside there.
Hong Kong police have arrested two men and two women for contributing to the Patreon accounts of two others on its wanted list: Nathan Law and Ted Hui. They face a maximum prison sentence of 10 years. They were also the first to be arrested under the financial assistance clause in the country's security law.