Six persons wanted for alleged contravention of the Hong Kong National Security Law
The National Security Department (NSD) of the Hong Kong Police Force today (December 24) said that Police have put six persons who have absconded overseas and are suspected to have committed offences under the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (National Security Law) on wanted list. The court has, upon application by the Police, issued arrest warrants against the said six persons at large.
A total of six persons, namely female Lau Ka-man, male Chung Hon-lam, male Chung Kim-wah, male Ho Leung-mau Victor, male Joseph Tay and female Cheung Hei-ching Chloe, who have fled overseas, are alleged to have committed offences under the National Security Law, including "incitement to secession", " subversion" and "collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security". Thus, Police applied to the court for the arrest warrants in accordance with the law and put the persons on the wanted list. The legal basis and basic facts for putting the persons on the wanted list are in the Annex.
Given that Police have attached great concern on the case, a reward of $1 million in respect of each wanted person is being offered by the Police to any member of the public, who can provide information on the wanted persons or the related cases.
In addition, taking into account the need for safeguarding national security, the Secretary for Security exercised the powers conferred by sections 89(1) of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance on December 24 to specify seven wanted persons absconded overseas as absconders, including male Hui Chi-fung, female Kwok Fung-yee, male Yuan Gong-yi, male Kwok Wing-hang, male Yam Kevin, female Hui Wing-ting and female Siu Joey.
Moreover, the Secretary for Security exercised the powers conferred by sections 89(4) of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, to specify the measures to be applied against the relevant absconders, including "Prohibition against making available funds or dealing with funds ", "Prohibition against certain activities in connection with immovable property", "Prohibition in connection with joint ventures or partnerships with relevant absconders", "Suspension of qualification to practice" , "Temporary removal from office of director" and "Cancellation of HKSAR passports etc".
The Police spokesperson stressed that “Endangering national security is a very serious offence. This kind of acts or activities may lead to extremely serious consequences. According to Article 37 of the National Security Law, this Law shall apply to a person who is a permanent resident of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, or an incorporated or unincorporated body such as a company or an organisation which is set up in the Region if the person or the body, commits an offence under this Law outside the Region. Therefore, Police have the responsibility to pursue those who have allegedly committed offences under the National Security Law outside Hong Kong.
According to Article 33 of the National Security Law, if an offender voluntarily discontinues the commission of the offence; voluntarily surrenders himself or herself and gives a truthful account of the offence; or reports on the offence committed by other person or provides material information which assists in solving other criminal case, a lighter penalty may be imposed, or the penalty may be reduced. The above wanted persons are urged to surrender to Hong Kong Police over their roles in engaging in endangering national security activities, so as to rectify their mistakes.
Police also pointed out that no matter in what ways, including through the internet, it is illegal for any person to aid, abet or provide pecuniary or other financial assistance or property to other persons for committing offences which endanger national security, contravening the National Security Law. Police urge members of the public to abide by the law and Police will strictly enforce the law.