Hong Kong Offers Bounties for Overseas Activists

Hong Kong Offers Bounties for Overseas Activists \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Hong Kong police issued arrest warrants and bounties for 19 overseas-based pro-democracy activists tied to a group called “Hong Kong Parliament.” Authorities accuse them of subversion under Beijing’s national security law. The international backlash highlights growing concern over transnational repression.

Quick Looks

• Hong Kong police announced arrest warrants for 19 overseas-based activists
• The group “Hong Kong Parliament” is accused of subversion under national security law
• Authorities say the group promotes self-determination and seeks a Hong Kong constitution
• Arrest warrants target individuals from the U.S., U.K., Canada, Taiwan, and Australia
• Bounties include HK$1 million ($127,400) for four key figures, and HK$200,000 for others
• Activist Elmer Yuen said the crackdown helps their movement gain visibility
• Facebook elections held by the group reportedly drew 15,700 valid votes
• Critics, including the U.K. and U.S., denounce the action as transnational repression
• Hong Kong and Beijing defend the national security law as essential for stability
• Some activists have already had their passports revoked under new legal powers

Deep Look

Hong Kong authorities have escalated their efforts to target overseas-based pro-democracy figures, announcing a new round of arrest warrants and bounties aimed at 19 activists accused of subversion under the sweeping national security law imposed by Beijing. The targeted individuals are allegedly involved with the group “Hong Kong Parliament,” a self-proclaimed organization advocating for Hong Kong self-determination and the creation of a democratic constitution separate from mainland China.

According to a police statement released Friday, the group is accused of using “illegal means” to undermine China’s political system and destabilize both Hong Kong and the Chinese central government. The Hong Kong Parliament organization, which is not officially recognized and whose election organizing committee was established in Canada, has held online elections involving voters from the U.S., U.K., Taiwan, Australia, Thailand, and other regions.

Hong Kong police say the group’s efforts—particularly its international “election” process and constitutional rhetoric—constitute subversive behavior in violation of the national security law, which Beijing implemented in the city in 2020 to clamp down on dissent. The law criminalizes acts of secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces, and applies to anyone, including non-residents, anywhere in the world.

On request from the police, a Hong Kong court issued formal arrest warrants for prominent activists including Elmer Yuen, Johnny Fok, Tony Choi, Victor Ho, Keung Ka-wai, and 14 others. These individuals are accused of either organizing or participating in the Hong Kong Parliament elections, joining the group as members, or promoting its goals.

Authorities announced bounties for information leading to the arrest of the accused. Four individuals—Yuen, Ho, Fok, and Choi—already had existing warrants and now carry a bounty of HK$1 million (approximately $127,400) each. For the remaining 15 individuals, the police are offering HK$200,000 ($25,480) for useful information.

“The investigation is still ongoing,” the police stated. “If necessary, police will offer bounties to hunt down more suspects in the case.” Authorities urged those named in the warrants to surrender, warning, “We hope the activists will take this opportunity to return to Hong Kong and turn themselves in, rather than making more mistakes.”

But some of the activists have responded with defiance. In a Facebook Live broadcast, Elmer Yuen acknowledged that the Hong Kong Parliament election didn’t see high levels of engagement but said the police campaign had unintentionally boosted their visibility. “It helps us with a lot of advertising,” Yuen commented, adding that the crackdown could strengthen their movement’s message.

Sasha Gong, another individual named in the bounty campaign, appeared on the same Facebook Live and accused the Hong Kong authorities of creating a police state. Gong, a U.S. citizen, said she plans to report the situation to American lawmakers and authorities. “This is no longer about just Hong Kong. It’s about transnational repression,” she said.

International condemnation has been swift. U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper issued a joint statement denouncing the move. “These warrants and bounties for individuals living in the U.K. are another example of transnational repression,” the statement read, warning that it could inspire dangerous behavior on British soil. They reaffirmed the U.K.’s commitment to defend the rights and safety of individuals targeted by foreign regimes.

This is not the first time Hong Kong has pursued overseas-based dissidents. In the past two years, authorities have issued arrest warrants and travel restrictions for various high-profile activists, including former lawmakers Nathan Law and Ted Hui. Several have had their Hong Kong passports revoked under expanded powers granted by the national security law.

These moves have drawn international criticism, particularly from governments in the West, which argue that Beijing is reneging on its 1997 promise to maintain Hong Kong’s civil liberties and autonomy for 50 years under the “one country, two systems” framework. Instead, critics say the national security law has created a climate of fear and suppression, extending even to Hongkongers who have fled abroad.

In March, the United States imposed sanctions on six Chinese and Hong Kong officials accused of participating in or enabling “transnational repression,” particularly in actions that threaten the autonomy of Hong Kong and violate human rights. The sanctioned individuals included police and government leaders involved in targeting activists overseas.

China responded in April by imposing its own sanctions on U.S. lawmakers, government officials, and NGO leaders who had spoken out on Hong Kong-related issues. Beijing accused them of “poor performance” and of interfering in Chinese domestic affairs.

Despite the backlash, both Beijing and Hong Kong authorities insist the national security laws are crucial to maintaining peace and order in the city. Police officials reiterated this week that the law applies to permanent Hong Kong residents—even if they are physically located abroad—and said no one would be exempt from accountability under the legal framework.

With increasing pressure on activists living in democratic countries, the tension between Hong Kong’s enforcement of Beijing’s security mandates and global standards for civil liberties continues to grow. The latest round of warrants and bounties is not only a legal move—it’s a political message: resistance, even abroad, will not go unpunished.

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