Latest news with #Beijing-imposed
HKFP
18 hours ago
- Business
- HKFP
No extra budget disbursed to nat. security ‘special fund' in 2024, Hong Kong gov't says
The Hong Kong government has said it did not allocate any extra budget to the national security 'special fund' in 2024, after disbursing a total of HK$13 billion to the fund as of 2023. In a document submitted to the legislature on Monday, the Financial Secretary's Office said that the Hong Kong government 'did not further inject funds into the Special Fund during the reporting period,' referring to the year 2024. Hong Kong established the special fund in 2020 to finance expenses related to safeguarding national security after Beijing imposed national security legislation in June that year, following pro-democracy protests and unrest in 2019. It received an initial allocation of HK$8 billion in December 2020 and an additional HK$5 billion in the financial year ending March 31, 2023. In the document, the Financial Secretary's Office also cited the Beijing-imposed national security law, saying that the details regarding the use of the fund would not be disclosed. The document only outlined the use of the fund in general terms, like 'recurrent expenditure,' which included salaries and allowances, and 'non-recurrent expenditure,' such as those for construction works and equipment. It did not provide any figures either. The national security law stipulates that Hong Kong establishes a Committee for Safeguarding National Security, chaired by the city's leader and supervised by Beijing, and that the police and the Department of Justice set up their own special national security teams. The special fund, which finances these establishments and their operations, is managed by a special accounting and financial unit under the Committee for Safeguarding National Security. The special unit reports to the financial secretary. The fund is appropriated from the government's general revenue with the approval of the chief executive. The financial secretary shall submit an annual report regarding the fund to the legislature. The special fund does not cover the expenditure of China's national security office in Hong Kong, which is funded separately by Beijing. In Monday's document, the Financial Secretary's Office reiterated that the special fund had been 'independently audited' following the requirements of Hong Kong's accounting policies and principles. But no details of the use of the special fund will be disclosed under Article 14 of the national security law, which states that information about the work of the Committee for Safeguarding National Security shall not be disclosed. 'Quite a number of jurisdictions regard the expenditure and manpower establishment concerning national security as secret information and do not disclose details of the expenditure involved,' the document added. Paul Chan, the financial secretary, is expected to present the document to the legislature during a general meeting on Wednesday. Beijing inserted national security legislation directly into Hong Kong's mini-constitution in June 2020 following a year of pro-democracy protests and unrest. It criminalised subversion, secession, collusion with foreign forces and terrorist acts – broadly defined to include disruption to transport and other infrastructure. The move gave police sweeping new powers and led to hundreds of arrests amid new legal precedents, while dozens of civil society groups disappeared. The authorities say it restored stability and peace to the city, rejecting criticism from trade partners, the UN and NGOs.
HKFP
2 days ago
- Politics
- HKFP
Hong Kong slams countries over ‘smears' against bounties targeting overseas activists
The Hong Kong government has said it 'strongly opposed and disapproved of smears with distorted facts' after countries such as the US, Canada, and Australia criticised the city's fresh bounties targeting overseas activists. In a statement on Sunday, the Hong Kong government said that 'such foreign government officials and politicians, as well as anti-China organisations, turned a blind eye to illegal acts of criminals' and 'also deliberately smeared and spread irresponsible remarks, in an attempt to mislead the public.' On Friday, Hong Kong national security police announced bounties for information leading to the arrest of 19 overseas activists for their link to political group the 'Hong Kong Parliament,' accusing them of committing subversion under the Beijing-imposed national security law. A bounty of HK$200,000 each was offered for 15 members of the group, while the remaining four were already wanted for HK$1 million each. 'The 'Hong Kong Parliament' is an organisation which aims to subvert state power; its objectives include promoting 'self-determination', promulgating the so-called 'Hong Kong Constitution', and overthrowing or undermining' the governments in China and Hong Kong, the statement also said. 'No country or organisation should harbour criminals nor try to exonerate these people with different excuses.' Criticism against bounties The Sunday statement was issued after senior US, Canadian, and Australian officials levelled criticism against the bounties. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday condemned the move by the Hong Kong authorities, calling the bounties 'transnational repression.' 'The extraterritorial targeting of Hong Kongers who are exercising their fundamental freedoms is a form of transnational repression,' Rubio said in a statement. 'We will not tolerate the Hong Kong government's attempts to apply its national security laws to silence or intimidate Americans or anyone on U.S. soil,' he added. In Canada, Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand and Minister of Public Safety Gary Anandasangaree issued a joint statement on Saturday condemning the bounties. 'This attempt by Hong Kong authorities to conduct transnational repression abroad, including by issuing threats, intimidation or coercion against Canadians or those in Canada, will not be tolerated,' the statement read. 'The actions taken by Hong Kong threaten the sovereignty of Canada and security of the people in this country,' the statement continued. The Canadian officials also said the bounties were 'being amplified in an inauthentic and coordinated way, through an online network of accounts that are targeting Chinese-speaking communities.' Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Saturday on X: 'Australia strongly objects to Hong Kong authorities issuing arrest warrants for pro-democracy advocates in Australia. Freedom of expression and assembly are essential to our democracy.' The Hong Kong government on Saturday also issued a statement opposing remarks by UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, who described the bounties as 'another example of transnational repression.' A total of 34 people residing overseas are currently placed on a wanted list by Hong Kong national security police. Beijing inserted national security legislation directly into Hong Kong's mini-constitution in June 2020 following a year of pro-democracy protests and unrest. It criminalised subversion, secession, collusion with foreign forces and terrorist acts – broadly defined to include disruption to transport and other infrastructure. The move gave police sweeping new powers and led to hundreds of arrests amid new legal precedents, while dozens of civil society groups disappeared. The authorities say it restored stability and peace to the city, rejecting criticism from trade partners, the UN and NGOs.
HKFP
2 days ago
- Politics
- HKFP
3 democrats released after serving jail terms in Hong Kong's largest nat. security trial
Three Hong Kong pro-democracy figures have been released after serving four years and five months in prison – the latest democrats convicted in the city's largest national security case to be freed. Frankie Fung, a pro-democracy activist, returned to his Kowloon City home in a police vehicle on Monday morning, according to an HKFP reporter at the scene. Fung was seen carrying a bag of belongings and did not respond to questions from reporters. Two other activists, Carol Ng and Lau Chak-fung, arrived home in police vehicles on Monday morning, local media reported. Lau was seen entering his residential building carrying two bags of belongings, also without responding to questions from reporters. The trio, who had been detained since 2021, were sentenced in November to four years and five months in jail after pleading guilty to subversion under the Beijing-imposed national security law. They were among a group of 47 opposition figures charged with the offence. A total of 45 were convicted in May last year, while two were acquitted. The case revolves around an unofficial primary election in July 2020 that aimed to help the pro-democracy camp win a controlling majority in Hong Kong's legislature. The 47 opposition figures were accused of conspiring to subvert state power after they planned that, once a legislative majority was obtained, they would threaten to indiscriminately veto the government budget to force it to accede to political demands, such as universal suffrage. In the verdict, three trial judges ruled the scheme would create a 'constitutional crisis.' After Fung, Ng and Lau were released on Monday, a total of 11 democrats in the case have completed their prison terms, including ex-lawmaker Claudia Mo in late April and LGBTQ activist Jimmy Sham in late May. Meanwhile, 34 others are still serving their sentences, including ex-law professor Benny Tai, who was sentenced to 10 years behind bars – the heaviest penalty in the case. The Court of Appeal earlier this month heard the appeal submissions from 12 democrats in the case, including ex-lawmaker 'Long Hair' Leung Kwok-hung and journalist-turned-activist Gwyneth Ho, as well as from the government, which sought to overturn the acquittal of Lawrence Lau. The judges presiding over the appeals hearing said they would rule within nine months. Beijing inserted national security legislation directly into Hong Kong's mini-constitution in June 2020 following a year of pro-democracy protests and unrest. It criminalised subversion, secession, collusion with foreign forces and terrorist acts – broadly defined to include disruption to transport and other infrastructure. The move gave police sweeping new powers and led to hundreds of arrests amid new legal precedents, while dozens of civil society groups disappeared. The authorities say it restored stability and peace to the city, rejecting criticism from trade partners, the UN and NGOs.
AsiaOne
3 days ago
- Politics
- AsiaOne
Canada condemns Hong Kong arrest warrants targeting pro-democracy activists, World News
TORONTO - The Canadian government on Saturday (July 26) condemned Hong Kong authorities issuing arrest warrants for pro-democracy activists based overseas. "The individuals targeted yesterday under the Beijing-imposed National Security Law in Hong Kong include Canadians and people with close ties to Canada," the government said in a statement. "This attempt by Hong Kong authorities to conduct transnational repression abroad, including by issuing threats, intimidation or coercion against Canadians or those in Canada, will not be tolerated." Hong Kong's national security police announced arrest warrants for 19 activists based overseas, accusing them of subversion under a stringent law, marking the largest such tally yet. [[nid:720621]]
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Canada condemns Hong Kong authorities after warrants issued for overseas activists
OTTAWA – The Canadian government is condemning Hong Kong's law enforcement authorities after they issued bounties and warrants for 19 pro-democracy activists, some of whom live in Canada. In a joint statement, federal Foreign Minister Anita Anand and Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree say Canada will not tolerate what it describes as an attempt for Hong Kong 'to conduct transnational repression abroad.' The statement came after Hong Kong police announced the warrants and rewards offered for 19 activists for 'suspected contravention' of its National Security Law for their roles in promoting self-determination in the Chinese special administrative region. Some of the activists named, including Canadian Victor Ho, already face warrants stemming from an announcement from Hong Kong in December and have a HK$1 million reward for information for their arrests. The new list of 19 people adds at least three other Canadian residents to the list with rewards of HK$200,000 offered. Hong Kong police also says they are calling on those on the wanted list to return and turn themselves in instead of 'making more mistakes.' In a text message to The Canadian Press, Ho says he was not surprised to hear his name on the new warrant list again, and the best policy on handling the situation is 'to keep everyday business as usual as possible.' Ho adds he is not concerned about his personal safety and has cut off all contact with Hong Kong family members since last year, and Global Affairs Canada has reached out to find out how many people living in the country are being targeted. In their joint statement, Anand and Anandasangaree criticize the warrants and say Canada 'stands in solidarity' with other 'international partners whose citizens and residents have also been affected by the new development,' which it calls an 'act of transnational repression.' 'The individuals targeted yesterday under the Beijing-imposed National Security Law in Hong Kong include Canadians and people with close ties to Canada,' their statement says. 'Canada reiterates its previous calls to repeal this law, which violates Hong Kong's international human rights obligations, and withdraw all related warrants and bounties.' Back in December, Ho responded in a Facebook post to his name being on the wanted list as the 'best Christmas present.' 'A Canadian citizen like me … has the protection of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and exercised his right to the freedom of speech,' said Ho, who is the former editor-in-chief of the Sing Tao Daily newspaper. Ho helped launched a plan in Canada to elect an unofficial 'Hong Kong parliament' in 2022, and the organizers' Facebook page says voting wrapped in June and garnered 15,702 total votes. — with files from The Associated Press This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 26, 2025.
