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London: Hong Kong police are offering bounties worth $HK1 million (AU$192,000) for information about eight activists who fled Beijing’s security crackdown on the territory for Australia, Britain and the US.

The bounties were offered by Hong Kong’s chief superintendent Steve Li for information leading to the arrests of Melbourne lawyer Kevin Yam, who is an Australian citizen, and former Hong Kong legislator Ted Hui who has settled in Adelaide with his family.

Hong Kong political exile Ted Hui has been living in exile in Australia since March 2021.Credit: Eamon Gallagher

The other activists named by Hong Kong police and who are based in the UK and US include other exiled politicians Nathan Law and Dennis Kwok, activists Finn Lau, Anna Kwok, and Elmer Yuan, and unionist Mung Siu-tat.

“The eight persons concerned who have fled overseas are alleged to have continued to commit offences under the national security law,” a government spokesperson said in a statement Monday.

“The fugitives should not have any delusion that they could evade their legal liabilities by absconding from Hong Kong.”

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said she was deeply disappointed by the issue of the arrest warrants.

“We have consistently expressed concerns about the broad application of the National Security Law to arrest or pressure pro-democracy figures and civil society,” Wong said.

Photos of eight activists who have been issued arrest warrants over national security are displayed during a press conference in Hong Kong,Credit: Reuters

“Freedom of expression and assembly are essential to our democracy, and we will support those in Australia who exercise those rights. Australia remains deeply concerned by the continuing erosion of Hong Kong’s rights, freedoms and autonomy.”

China imposed the national security law on Hong Kong in June 2020 amid widespread anti-government protests to crack down on any dissent.

Among its targets were journalists, lawyers democracy activists and members of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council.

Hong Kong activist Nathan Law attends a candlelight vigil outside the Chinese embassy in London.Credit: AP

Law was the Council’s youngest-ever member. He fled the repression and successfully sought asylum in Britain.

He said in a statement posted on social media: “I am just a Hongkonger who speaks out for Hongkongers.”

“I hope that all friends on the list are well, and I ask Hongkongers not to cooperate with any related pursuit or bounty actions.

“We should not limit ourselves, self-censor, be intimidated or live in fear.”

Lau is in the UK along with Law and the remaining four are in the United States.

Britain says Beijing’s national security law violates the 1984 handover agreement which Beijing signed and is recognised under international law.

The international community has been powerless in forcing Beijing to honour the One Country, Two Systems model it agreed to ahead of the 1997 handover.

The UK’s foreign secretary James Cleverly said in a statement: “We call on Beijing to remove the National Security Law and for the Hong Kong authorities to end their targeting of those who stand up for freedom and democracy.”

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