Prime US diplomat calls on worldwide group to oppose ‘transnational repression’.
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken has condemned Hong Kong authorities for putting bounties on 5 pro-democracy activists primarily based abroad, together with a US citizen, calling on the worldwide group to oppose “transnational repression”.
Blinken mentioned on Friday that the bounties of 1 million Hong Kong {dollars} ($128,000) for info resulting in the activists’ arrest confirmed Hong Kong authorities’ disregard for worldwide norms and human rights.
“We strongly oppose any efforts to intimidate and silence people who select to make the USA their residence and won’t waver in standing up for many who are focused merely for exercising their human rights,” Blinken mentioned in an announcement.
“We encourage the worldwide group to hitch us in condemning this act of transnational repression. The US stays dedicated to defending the rights and freedoms of all folks and calls on the PRC to behave in a fashion in step with its worldwide commitments and authorized obligations,” the highest US diplomat added, referring to the acronym of China’s official title, the Folks’s Republic of China.
United Kingdom International Secretary David Cameron earlier condemned Hong Kong authorities’ transfer as a “risk to our democracy and elementary human rights”.
Hong Kong authorities on Thursday introduced the rewards for details about Joey Siu, Simon Cheng, Frances Hui, Johnny Fok and Tony Choi, all of whom are wished below the Chinese language-ruled territory’s draconian nationwide safety legislation, which claims jurisdiction over all the planet.
Hong Kong police Chief Superintendent Steve Li Kwai-wah mentioned the 5 had been suspected of incitement to secession, incitement to subversion, overseas collusion and had “betrayed their very own nation and betrayed Hong Kong”.
The 5 have advocated for democracy and civil liberties in Hong Kong from overseas following a sweeping crackdown on the town that has criminalised virtually all opposition to Beijing.
Siu holds US citizenship, and Hui was granted asylum within the US in 2021.
Cheng, who was granted asylum by the British authorities in 2020, Fok and Choi all reside within the UK.
In April, Hong Kong authorities introduced bounties for info resulting in the arrest of eight different overseas-based Hong Kong activists, together with former lawmaker Ted Hui.
Siu mentioned on X she would “by no means be silenced” and would “by no means again down”.
Hui mentioned her advocacy for democracy and freedom “has not and won’t cease”, whereas Cheng described the fees towards him as an “honour”.
Amnesty Worldwide mentioned on Thursday that the bounties had been “affirmation that the Hong Kong authorities’ systematic dismantling of human rights has formally gone international”.
China’s Ministry of International Affairs on Friday hit again at criticism of the bounties, accusing Western governments of unveiling their “malicious intentions in messing up Hong Kong”.
About 300 folks have been arrested below Hong Kong’s nationwide safety legislation, which has drastically curtailed rights and freedoms which might be supposed to tell apart the town from the Chinese language mainland below an association generally known as “one nation, two programs”.
These arrested embrace Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, the founding father of the defunct Apple Day by day newspaper, who is about to go on trial from Monday on prices of colluding with overseas forces.
