theglobalsun – Hong Kong national security police have escalated their crackdown on overseas dissidents. Questioning relatives of pro-democracy activist Carmen Lau, a former district councillor now based in the United Kingdom (UK).
Lau, who is among six overseas activists wanted under the National Security Law (NSL). Faces charges of inciting secession and colluding with foreign forces. On February 10 at 7 a.m., officers arrived at the home of her 66-year-old uncle and 63-year-old aunt in Tai Wai, Taking them to Sha Tin Police Station for questioning. The Hong Kong Police Force stated that they were “brought in to assist with an investigation” but confirmed that no arrests have been made.
Beijing Expands Its Crackdown Beyond Borders
Lau, formerly part of the now-disbanded Civic Party, has been living in exile in the U.S. since July 2021. She currently serves as a senior international advocacy associate at the U.S.-based Hong Kong Democracy Council. Which lobbies for global support for Hong Kong’s democracy movement.
Hong Kong authorities accuse Lau of using social media and public speeches to advocate for Hong Kong’s independence and urge foreign governments to impose sanctions on Beijing. In response, officials issued a HK$1 million (US$128,500) bounty for information leading to her arrest.
Hong Kong authorities have also targeted Lau for “inciting blank votes” in the 2021 Legislative Council elections. The first held after Beijing’s “patriots-only” overhaul, which effectively barred opposition candidates.
A Broader Strategy of Repression
Lau is just one of six activists targeted in the latest round of arrest warrants issued in December. Among them is 19-year-old Chloe Cheung, a U.K.-based activist working with pro-democracy NGOs.
Authorities have also targeted the family of pollster Chung Kim-wah, including his wife, son, three siblings, and staff at the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (PORI).
This pattern reflects Beijing’s expanding crackdown on overseas activists by intimidating their families and silencing dissent beyond Hong Kong’s borders.
Hong Kong Authorities Expand Crackdown on Exiled Activists
Hong Kong police continue to target exiled pro-democracy activists, issuing arrest warrants and questioning their families and colleagues in an effort to silence dissent.
Authorities jailed Tony Chung, a former independence activist, under the National Security Law (NSL) in 2021 before he fled to the United Kingdom in 2023. In an Instagram post, Chung expressed his “honor” at being the first Hong Konger charged twice under the NSL. His comment underscores the law’s global reach, allowing Beijing to pursue individuals beyond Hong Kong’s borders.
Authorities Extend International Pursuits
The December arrest warrants mark the third time Hong Kong authorities have sought the extradition of overseas dissidents. Among those targeted in previous rounds are:
- Former lawmakers Ted Hui and Dennis Kwok, accused of advocating for foreign sanctions on Hong Kong officials
- Chinese authorities detained Simon Cheng, a former U.K. consulate worker and founder of Hongkongers in Britain, in Shenzhen in 2019. The U.K. later granted him asylum in 2020.
Beyond issuing international arrest warrants, Hong Kong police have intensified pressure on relatives and colleagues of exiled dissidents. Pollster Robert Chung has faced questioning twice after authorities issued an arrest warrant for his former colleague, Chung Kim-wah.
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National Security Law: A Tool for Global Repression
Beijing’s National People’s Congress imposed the NSL in June 2020, bypassing Hong Kong’s Legislative Council and local democratic processes. Originally introduced to restore order after the 2019 pro-democracy protests. The law has instead eroded Hong Kong’s autonomy, turning its legal system into an extension of China’s authoritarian rule.
The NSL criminalizes subversion, secession, collusion with foreign forces, and terrorism, with broad definitions that include disrupting transportation infrastructure. More alarmingly, the law grants extraterritorial jurisdiction, allowing Hong Kong and Chinese authorities to pursue dissidents worldwide.
This global reach now underpins ongoing arrest warrants and bounties, ensuring that activists abroad remain under threat while their families face harassment back home.
UK Urged to Act Against Hong Kong’s Transnational Repression
Human Rights Watch has warned that Hong Kong’s National Security Law (NSL) undermines rule of law and human rights protections guaranteed by the Basic Law. Amnesty International has described the law as a tool that has eroded freedoms and silenced dissent. In November 2024, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed grave concerns, stating that the NSL criminalizes peaceful activism and violates freedom of expression, assembly, and association.
UK Becomes a Safe Haven for Hong Kong Exiles
Thousands of Hong Kong exiles now reside in the UK, including many targeted by overseas arrest warrants. The British government has condemned the extraterritorial reach of the NSL and granted asylum to several high-profile dissidents.
However, concerns remain over Beijing’s transnational repression tactics. Activists in Britain have faced surveillance, harassment, and intimidation. Observers warn that UK-based organizations and businesses could come under political pressure to comply with Hong Kong’s authoritarian laws.
UK Authorities Respond to Growing Threats
As Hong Kong intensifies efforts to target exiled dissidents abroad, the UK government faces increasing calls to strengthen protections for political refugees.
The UK’s Joint Committee on Human Rights has launched an investigation into transnational repression and is reviewing whether new legal and policy measures are necessary. The committee has opened a call for evidence until February 24, 2025, urging activists, legal experts, and affected individuals to submit testimonies.
With Hong Kong authorities issuing bounties, conducting surveillance, and harassing exiles’ families, campaigners argue that the UK must act decisively to confront China’s growing campaign of global censorship and intimidation.
