The U.S. State Department said that the Hong Kong government’s issuance of arrest warrants for six overseas pro-democracy figures and the revocation of passports of seven other pro-democracy activists were intimidating and condemned them.
The U.S. State Department issued a statement on its official website on Thursday (December 26), saying: “We oppose the Hong Kong government’s intimidation and repression of individuals who choose to call the United States home. The United States unwaveringly supports those who are targeted simply for exercising their right to freedom of speech.”
The statement said that the extraterritorial application of the Hong Kong National Security Law is a form of transnational repression that threatens U.S. sovereignty and the human rights and fundamental freedoms of people around the world. “These actions show that the Hong Kong authorities disregard international norms and the rights to freedom of speech and peaceful assembly.”
The U.S. State Department also called on the Hong Kong government to stop using the National Security Law to suppress dissent in the statement
The Hong Kong government issued arrest warrants for six overseas pro-democracy figures on Tuesday (December 24) on the grounds of engaging in activities endangering national security, and gazetted seven others as fugitives of crimes endangering national security, revoking their passports and prohibiting them from providing funds.
The US State Department said that the Hong Kong government’s issuance of arrest warrants for six pro-democracy figures overseas and the revocation of passports of seven other pro-democracy activists were acts of intimidation and condemned them.
On June 12 this year, the Hong Kong government had implemented the same measures on six Hong Kong people who had fled to the UK, including Nathan Law, Mung Siu-tat, Lau Cho-ti, Cheng Man-kit, Fok Ka-chi and Choi Ming-tat. The seven Hong Kong people involved this time are currently in exile in the United States and Australia, including Hui Chi-fung, Kwok Fung-yee, Yuen Kwong-yee, Kwok Wing-hang, Yam Kin-fung, Hui Wing-ting and Shiu Lan.
The four measures implemented by the Hong Kong government on them include revoking the SAR passports, prohibiting the provision of funds or handling of funds for them, prohibiting certain activities related to real estate, and prohibiting joint ventures or partnerships involving the fugitives. Individuals will also be temporarily disqualified from practicing and temporarily removed from their positions as directors.