Hong Kong's leader said that a group of exiled pro-democracy activists will be 'pursued for life.' The million-dollar bounties dissuade people all over the world from speaking up against diminishing freedoms in China and Hong Kong, observers say
with dozens of countries around the world, and, although all three countries where the eight targeted activists are based have suspended their extradition agreements since the implementation of the National Security Law, the arrest warrants severely restrict their movement.
Anna Kwok, one of the eight dissidents named by the Hong Kong police who is now in the U.S., tells TIME that she has to be increasingly careful of the countries she could enter since the announcement. “The same level of caution includes the route of my flights,” she says. But for Kwok, the greater danger is the effect the bounty may have on her ability to engage with members of the Chinese and Hong Kong diaspora. “The Hong Kong authorities are trying to rile up a mob mentality among pro-Beijing supporters,” she explains. “It’s a usual tactic from the Chinese Communist Party to pit people against people.”that the police arrest warrants threaten to “exacerbate community tensions.
Malte Kaeding, a senior lecturer of international politics and director of the Hong Kong Studies Hub at the University of Surrey, adds that “overseas organizations might also be put under pressure to question their links to the activists,” which threatens the dissidents’ support system outside of the city-state.
The announcement of the bounties alone dissuades people all over the world from speaking up against diminishing freedoms in China and Hong Kong. Alfred Wu, an associate professor who researches Chinese governance at Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, tells TIME. “This is the point,” he says. “In reality, whether people will be prosecuted, I mean, that’s another story.”
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Nathan Law: Hong Kong activist in UK fears for safety over bountyNathan Law says his life has become more dangerous as Hong Kong police offer a bounty for his arrest.
Read more »
China accuses UK of harbouring Hong Kong fugitivesThe UK had criticised Hong Kong for placing bounties on eight pro-democracy activists based overseas.
Read more »
UK vows to defend exiled Hong Kong activists after arrest warrants issuedA reward of one million Hong Kong dollars (£100,570) has been issued for information leading to arrests of any of the eight people targeted under the legislation imposed by China.
Read more »
Two-thirds of US adults report adverse childhood experiences: CDC study reveals troubling prevalenceTwo-thirds of US adults report adverse childhood experiences: CDC study reveals troubling prevalence CDCMMWR childhood adversechildhoodexperiences cdc usadults publichealth
Read more »
China accuses UK of harbouring Hong Kong fugitivesThe UK had criticised Hong Kong for placing bounties on eight pro-democracy activists based overseas.
Read more »