HK police offer HK$1m bounties for 5 NSL fugitives

Senior Superintendent Hung Ngan (left) and Chief Superintendent Li Kwai-wah of the National Security Department attend a press conference at the Police Headquarters on Dec 14, 2023. (ANDY CHONG/CHINA DAILY)

The Hong Kong Police Force on Thursday offered a cash reward of HK$1 million ($128,000) for five fugitives who are suspected of violating the National Security Law for Hong Kong. Police also arrested four more people who are suspected of sponsoring two fugitives in attempting to commit secession.

The five are Simon Cheng Man-kit, Hui Wing-ting, Joey Siu, Fok Ka-chi, and Choi Ming-da, who are accused of various offenses, such as inciting secession, inciting subversion of State power and colluding with external forces to endanger national security.

Earlier on July 3, Hong Kong police offered a reward of HK$1 million for the arrest of each of eight fugitives wanted for endangering national security.

Currently, there are 13 individuals on the wanted list. Among the additional eight fugitives are three exiled former lawmakers, including Ted Hui Chi-fung, and five others who allegedly advocated separatism and sought the imposition of foreign sanctions on Hong Kong.

During a media briefing, Chief Superintendent Steve Li Kwai-wah from the police's National Security Department expressed strong condemnation of the fugitives' actions, saying that they had betrayed the country and disregarded the interests of the people of Hong Kong. Li described their behavior as despicable and emphasized the seriousness of the charges they face.

Simon Cheng, 33, is accused of being involved in the establishment of separatist-linked political organizations and repeatedly promoting Hong Kong independence through various social media platforms, Li said. Cheng, along with 24-year-old Hui and Siu, have repeatedly called for foreign sanctions against officials, judicial officers and law enforcement officers of the central government and the Special Administrative Region government.

Li added that Fok, 42, and Choi, 46, are accused of operating social media channels, where they have released multiple videos urging viewers to undergo military training abroad, join foreign armies or organize military forces in an attempt to achieve Hong Kong independence. They advocated using armed force to overthrow the administration of China and of the special administrative region.

Li revealed that Fok and Choi had previously been involved in a plot to deceive and defraud the public of over HK$100,000 while purportedly assisting young people involved in rioting to flee Hong Kong, describing their actions as abhorrent.

Li also said that, if Agnes Chow Ting fails to return to Hong Kong and report within the specified deadline, she will be considered a fugitive.

Chow was arrested on suspicion of colluding with a foreign country, or with external elements, to endanger national security.

Now studying for a master's degree in Canada, she is required to report to the Hong Kong Police Force this month as part of a national security investigation. On Dec 3, she announced via her Instagram account that she had decided not to report to the police this month and would probably never return to her hometown.

Police officials present photos and details of five fugitives suspected of violating the National Security Law for Hong Kong during a press conference at the Police Headquarters on Dec 14, 2023. (ANDY CHONG/CHINA DAILY)

The Hong Kong Police Force also confirmed the arrest of two men and two women aged between 29 and 68 on Wednesday. After investigation, the four were found to have provided financial support to Ted Hui and Nathan Law Kwun-chung for activities endangering national security between December 2020 and November 2023, with the amount of money involved ranging from HK$10,000 to HK$120,000.

The Police Force's move has received a groundswell of support from the Security Bureau, the Hong Kong SAR government and the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong SAR.

Pledging continuous and full support to the police, the Security Bureau said it will continue to lead the force to pursue the legal liability of those who have violated the NSL.

Pointing out that the NSL enjoys an extraterritorial effect, the bureau said it is a duty and a justified move by the Police to put the five people, who have fled overseas and allegedly continued to commit offences under the NSL, on the wanted list.

A spokesperson declared the bureau's determination to prevent, suppress and impose punishment for acts and activities endangering national security in accordance with the law and to safeguard national security.

A spokesperson of the Hong Kong SAR government said the five have repeatedly engaged in public acts and activities that endanger national security, including advocating to achieve ‘Hong Kong independence' through ‘force' and requesting foreign countries to impose so-called ‘sanctions' on officials of the central government and the Hong Kong SAR as well as judicial and law enforcement officers.

The SAR government will take all measures necessary in accordance with the law to bring them to justice and make every effort to safeguard national security. "Fugitives should not take any chances or have any delusion that they could evade criminal liabilities by absconding from Hong Kong," the spokesperson added.

In a statement issued on Thursday evening, a spokesperson for the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong SAR said it is another just move taken by the Hong Kong Police Force following the warrants of arrest for eight fugitives in July, which shows the Police courage and commitment to safeguarding national security.

Police officials present photos and details of five fugitives suspected of violating the National Security Law for Hong Kong during a press conference at the Police Headquarters on Dec 14, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

The spokesperson said seeking the arrest of fugitives serves the fundamental interests of Hong Kong and reflects the common aspirations of the community.

It is also a move necessary for fully and accurately implementing the NSL, and ensuring Hong Kong's prosperity, stability and development, the spokesperson added.