The Hong Kong government has cancelled the passports of 12 activists based overseas and banned individuals from providing financial support or leasing property to 16 “absconders” in its latest crackdown on activities that it claims pose threats to national security. The move is part of a broader effort to suppress dissent and opposition in the city, with authorities alleging that the activists’ participation in the “Hong Kong Parliament” advocacy group constitutes subversion under the city’s sweeping national security law.
The wanted activists include Chongyi Feng, an Australian citizen and professor at the University of Technology Sydney, and Sasha Gong, a United States citizen and journalist who previously worked for Voice of America. The Hong Kong government spokesperson said the activists had continued to “blatantly engage in activities that endanger national security” while hiding in countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
The Hong Kong parliament condemned last month’s announcement of arrest warrants and bounties for the campaigners as a “blatant abuse of legal instruments to pursue political persecution”. “These actions represent a clear escalation of Beijing’s transnational repression, extending its coercive reach beyond China’s borders and infringing upon the sovereignty of democratic nations, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and members of the European Union,” the group said.
The criticism highlights the growing concern about China’s increasing assertiveness and its impact on Hong Kong’s autonomy and human rights. The city’s introduction of a sweeping national security law in 2020 has led to a significant curtailment of dissent and opposition, with opposition parties effectively eliminated from the city’s legislature and public commemorations of sensitive events essentially outlawed.
The cancellation of passports and the ban on financial support are seen as a further erosion of Hong Kong’s autonomy and human rights. Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said last month that 332 individuals had been arrested for national offences since 2020, and mainland Chinese and Hong Kong officials have defended the law and additional national security legislation introduced in 2024 as necessary to restore stability to the city after the turmoil caused by the mass protests.
The move has sparked concern globally, with many calling for the protection of human rights and autonomy in Hong Kong. The situation highlights the ongoing tensions between Hong Kong and the international community, particularly over issues of democracy, human rights, and national security.