Hong Kong Offers 170 Million Won Bounty for Overseas Individuals Violating National Security Law

Former Hong Kong Legislative Council member Nathan Law protesting in front of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs building on August 25, 2020. [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

On the 3rd, the Hong Kong police announced a bounty of 1 million Hong Kong dollars (approximately 170 million KRW) per person for eight overseas-based pro-democracy figures wanted on charges of violating the National Security Law.

The Hong Kong police stated that they would offer a reward of 1 million Hong Kong dollars to anyone providing information that helps arrest eight individuals currently in exile overseas: former Legislative Council members Nathan Law, Dennis Kwok, and Teddy Hui; lawyer Kevin Yam; pro-democracy activists Finn Lau, Anna Kwok, and Elmer Yuen; and labor union member Mong Siu Tat.

These individuals are currently residing in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and the United States, leading Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement from abroad. This is the first time since the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law on June 30, 2020, that the police have announced bounties related to this law.

The Hong Kong National Security Law criminalizes four offenses?secession, subversion of state power, terrorist activities, and collusion with foreign forces?and allows for the maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

The Hong Kong police reported that over the past three years, 260 people aged between 15 and 90 have been arrested on charges of violating the National Security Law, with 161 prosecuted.

The enforcement of this law has effectively dismantled Hong Kong's pro-democracy camp. On the 1st, John Lee, Chief Executive of Hong Kong, stated at the 26th anniversary ceremony of Hong Kong's sovereignty handover that the implementation of the National Security Law has generally restored stability to Hong Kong society, but warned that vigilance against "weak (moderate) resistance" must not be relaxed and that national security must be actively safeguarded.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.