Beijing lashes out at Western criticism of Hong Kong bounties on 6 activists

Beijing has hit out at the US, UK, EU and Canada for “openly smearing” Hong Kong’s rule of law and interfering in its judicial processes after their governments slammed city authorities for placing new bounties on six activists wanted for allegedly violating the national security law and cancelling the passports of seven others.

The Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong issued a strongly worded statement on Wednesday following the chorus of criticism triggered by Hong Kong police’s move to issue HK$1 million (US$128,690) bounties for six more activists a day earlier. The number of opposition figures on the list of people wanted for allegedly contravening the Beijing-imposed law now stands at 19.

The city government also issued a gazette on Tuesday announcing that Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung had revoked the passports of seven activists who had fled Hong Kong and barred anyone from funding them, in the second such instance under the city’s domestic security law.

A spokesman for the office said: “Under the guise of ‘democracy’ and ‘human rights’, these people were willing to be the ‘vanguard’ of certain countries to disrupt Hong Kong and contain China.

“Their illegal and evil deeds have seriously endangered national security, damaged the fundamental interests of Hong Kong, and impacted the bottom line of the ‘one country, two systems’ principle. Their actions were shameful and their crimes were unforgivable.

“We solemnly demand that relevant countries, organisations and politicians abide by the principles of international law and basic norms of international relations, earnestly respect China’s sovereignty and the rule of law in Hong Kong, immediately stop making groundless accusations and interfering in the affairs of Hong Kong and China.”