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Sydney academic discovers BOUNTY on his head worth $38,000 via WhatsApp
Sydney academic discovers BOUNTY on his head worth $38,000 via WhatsApp

Daily Mail​

time5 days ago

  • Politics
  • Daily Mail​

Sydney academic discovers BOUNTY on his head worth $38,000 via WhatsApp

An Australian academic has been caught up in a sweeping crackdown in Hong Kong, learning through a WhatsApp message that he is wanted by authorities. Dr Feng Chongyi, who is an associate professor in China Studies at University of Technology, Sydney, is one of 19 overseas activists targeted in arrest warrants issued by Hong Kong police. Slapped with a bounty of HK$200,000 (AU$38,000), he has dismissed the latest charges against him as absurd. Hong Kong has seen its pro-democracy movement crushed in recent years under the weight of increasingly draconian laws supported by the Chinese government. The recent warrant relates to Dr Feng's involvement in the 'Hong Kong Parliament', a self-declared pro-democracy body based outside the city. Authorities have accused the organisation of attempting to form a 'shadow legislature' and 'pursuing the ideal of Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong'. They've called the group's activities subversive and in breach of sweeping national security laws imposed by the Beijing government in 2020. 'This action shows the world the brutality of the Chinese communist regime,' Dr Feng told ABC News, adding that he found out he was wanted on the messaging service WhatsApp. Born in mainland China, Dr Feng has advocated for democratic reform in Hong Kong and was previously detained and interrogated by Chinese authorities in 2017. '(This warrant) also reminds the world that Hong Kong has been completely controlled by China,' he said. 'The autonomy is gone, basic liberties protected by law (are) gone, they've completely destroyed a beautiful city, it's so sad.' Dr Feng said he was not overly concerned by the warrant, given he has no plans to return to Hong Kong or mainland China: 'I do not take it as a big deal.' Authorities say the wanted individuals either helped organise or took part in the Hong Kong Parliament's unofficial election. The campaign saw 18 candidates from Australia, the UK, US, Canada, Taiwan and Thailand win more than 15,000 online votes. Police have offered the bounty of HK$200,000 for information leading to the arrest of 15 individuals. Meanwhile, they are offering HK$1million (AU$194,000) for four people who were previously issued warrants: Elmer Yuen, Victor Ho, Johnny Fok and Tony Choi. Dr Feng faces a $38,000 bounty which he discovered via WhatsApp The police warned that anyone assisting or supporting the group, including via the internet, could face prosecution under national security laws. In a statement, they urged the accused to 'turn back before it's too late' and 'surrender themselves in Hong Kong.' Dr Feng, a close friend of jailed Australian writer Yang Hengjun, said he joined the organising committee out of solidarity. 'I have many friends in Hong Kong who want democracy,' he said. The crackdown has triggered widespread condemnation from Australian politicians across parliament. 'Australia has consistently expressed strong objections to the broad and extraterritorial application of Hong Kong's national security law,' Foreign Minister Penny Wong posted on social media on Saturday. 'Freedom of expression and assembly are essential to our democracy.' Shadow Foreign Minister Michaelia Cash said the Coalition held 'serious concerns' over the targeting of pro-democracy activists abroad. 'We fundamentally believe in free speech,' she said. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who is currently visiting Sydney, also labelled the move 'totally, totally unacceptable.'

Chinese academic in Australia slams 'ridiculous' Hong Kong bounties
Chinese academic in Australia slams 'ridiculous' Hong Kong bounties

Straits Times

time5 days ago

  • Politics
  • Straits Times

Chinese academic in Australia slams 'ridiculous' Hong Kong bounties

Find out what's new on ST website and app. The bounties issued by Hong Kong range from about US$25,000 (S$32,000) to US$125,000, depending on the individual. Sydney - An academic in Australia who was among 19 people that Hong Kong issued bounties for has criticised the 'ridiculous' arrest warrants and warned that the region was trying to exert its power beyond its borders. Authorities from the Chinese city announced cash rewards on July 25 for information leading to the arrest of 19 overseas activists involved in Hong Kong Parliament – a pro-democracy group established in Canada. The bounties range from about US$25,000 (S$32,000) to US$125,000, depending on the individual. Among those named was Prof Feng Chongyi, a China studies professor at the University of Technology Sydney. 'It's certainly ridiculous,' he told the Sydney Morning Herald in an interview published July 26. 'They've got the power, they've got the influence overseas, they want to control everything even overseas.' Prof Feng told the publication he joined the group as an academic. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Almost half of planned 30,000 HDB flats in Tengah to be completed by end-2025: Chee Hong Tat Asia Death toll climbs as Thai-Cambodia clashes continue despite calls for ceasefire Multimedia Lights dimmed at South-east Asia's scam hub but 'pig butchering' continues Singapore Black belt in taekwondo, Grade 8 in piano: S'pore teen excels despite condition that limits movements Asia Where's Jho Low? Looking for 1MDB fugitive at a Shanghai luxury estate Asia Thousands rally in downtown Kuala Lumpur calling for the resignation of PM Anwar Life SG60 F&B icons: Honouring 14 heritage brands that have never lost their charm Business Can STI continue its defiant climb in second half of 2025? 'I feel very sad, I'm extremely upset that the autonomous Hong Kong has been destroyed,' he added. 'It's unbearable for me.' 'Hong Kong was such a beautiful, dynamic place – the best part of Chinese culture, the combination of the East and the West.' The former British colony – handed back to China in 1997 – has seen political dissent quashed since Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law in 2020 following huge and at times violent pro-democracy protests. Prof Feng, who has conducted research into China's pro-democracy groups, was detained for a week in China in 2017. At the time, his lawyer said he was 'suspected of harming national security and could not leave China'. The July 25 announcement of bounties was the fourth from Hong Kong authorities, which has previously drawn strong criticism from Western countries. The bounties are seen as largely symbolic given that they affect people living abroad in nations unlikely to extradite political activists to Hong Kong or China. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on July 26 she strongly objected to the arrest warrants. 'Freedom of expression and assembly are essential to our democracy,' she said on social media platform X. 'We have consistently expressed our strong objections to China and Hong Kong on the broad and extraterritorial application of Hong Kong's national security legislation, and we will continue to do so.' The UK also condemned the move as 'another example of transnational repression', according to a statement from British Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. The Hong Kong government hit back on July 26, calling Britain's reaction 'untrue and biased'. 'Those absconders hiding in the UK and other Western countries are wanted because they continue to blatantly engage in activities endangering national security,' it said, demanding that Britain 'stop interfering in Hong Kong matters which are purely China's internal affairs'. AFP

Hong Kong police issue arrest warrants for foreign nationals including Australian citizen Feng Chongyi
Hong Kong police issue arrest warrants for foreign nationals including Australian citizen Feng Chongyi

ABC News

time5 days ago

  • Politics
  • ABC News

Hong Kong police issue arrest warrants for foreign nationals including Australian citizen Feng Chongyi

An Australian man has discovered he is wanted by Hong Kong authorities via messaging platform WhatsApp. Feng Chongyi is among 19 foreign nationals who Hong Kong police have imposed bounties on, accusing them of national security crimes. According to Hong Kong police, the activists, who also include UK citizens, worked for what the force called a "subversive organisation" named Hong Kong Parliament, a pro-democracy non-government group. A reward of $HK200,000 ($38,000) each has been offered for 15 of the activists, while the four others were already wanted for $HK1 million ($194,038). The 19 arrest warrants for the activists follow political unrest and ongoing, at times violent, protests in Hong Kong, which have quietened since Beijing imposed sweeping national security laws in 2020. Dr Feng, who in 2017 was detained in China for a week and interrogated by authorities, described the arrest warrant as "ridiculous". But he said he did "not take it as a big deal" because he did not plan to return to mainland China or Hong Kong. "This action shows the world the brutality of the Chinese communist regime. It also reminds the world that Hong Kong has been completely controlled by China," he said. "The autonomy is gone, basic liberties protected by law [are] gone, they've completely destroyed a beautiful city — it's so sad." While Dr Feng is not originally from Hong Kong, he has been heavily involved in pro-democracy efforts, with local authorities citing his participation in a Hong Kong electoral organising committee as the reason for his arrest warrant. In an annex by the Hong Kong Police Force, authorities accused him of "intent to overthrow the system of the People's Republic of China". Dr Feng — a friend of imprisoned Australian writer Yang Hengjun, who is awaiting a death sentence in China — said he had joined the organising committee because he has many friends in Hong Kong who want democracy. He said he was relieved Australia's extradition treaty with Hong Kong was currently suspended. Condemnation of the arrest warrants has poured in from politicians. Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to voice her strong objection to the warrants for pro-democracy Australian activists. "Freedom of expression and assembly are essential to our democracy," Senator Wong said. Opposition spokesperson for foreign affairs, Michaelia Cash, said the Coalition had serious concerns about Hong Kong authorities' issuing of arrest warrants. "We fundamentally believe in free speech. It is an essential element of our democracy," she said in a statement. UK Secretary of State David Lammy, who is currently in Australia, said this sort of interference in UK affairs was "totally, totally unacceptable". "We will stand up to it, as you would expect us to," he told a crowd in Sydney, during an address at the Lowy Institute on Saturday. According to reporting by Agence France-Presse, the bounties announced by Hong Kong police are viewed as largely symbolic, as those affected live overseas in nations unlikely to extradite political activists to Hong Kong or China. According to the Hong Kong Police Force's website, as of Friday, there were 34 people wanted by the agency for national security offences, including secession, subversion, or foreign collusion.

‘Ridiculous': Hong Kong places bounty on Australian professor
‘Ridiculous': Hong Kong places bounty on Australian professor

Sydney Morning Herald

time5 days ago

  • Politics
  • Sydney Morning Herald

‘Ridiculous': Hong Kong places bounty on Australian professor

An Australian pro-democracy academic has labelled a warrant for his arrest by Hong Kong's national security police as 'ridiculous', as authorities there pursue 19 overseas-based members of what they describe as a subversive organisation. University of Technology Sydney China studies professor Dr Feng Chongyi – who in 2017 was detained for 10 days while on a research trip to China – now has a bounty on him over his involvement in an unofficial pro-democracy group, Hong Kong Parliament. He is accused of helping to organise or participate in the largely Canada-based group, which authorities in Hong Kong say aimed to subvert state power under a national security law that China imposed on the territory in 2020, following months of pro-democracy protests the year before. Feng and the others are accused of having launched a referendum or run as candidates in the unofficial 'Hong Kong Parliament' group, which authorities say aims at achieving self-determination and drafting a 'Hong Kong constitution'. Hong Kong police said the organisation sought to overthrow the governments of China and Hong Kong by unlawful means, that they were still investigating, and further arrests could follow. Loading Regarding its 'election' process, the Hong Kong Parliament group has said on social media that it drew about 15,700 valid votes through mobile app and online voting systems. It said the candidates and elected members came from around the world including Taiwan, Thailand, Australia, the US, Canada and the UK. Feng isn't from Hong Kong, but said he had agreed to join the group as an academic. 'It's certainly ridiculous, it does not offend me in any sense … they've got the power, they've got the influence overseas, they want to control everything even overseas,' Feng told this masthead on Saturday.

‘Ridiculous': Hong Kong places bounty on Australian professor
‘Ridiculous': Hong Kong places bounty on Australian professor

The Age

time5 days ago

  • Politics
  • The Age

‘Ridiculous': Hong Kong places bounty on Australian professor

An Australian pro-democracy academic has labelled a warrant for his arrest by Hong Kong's national security police as 'ridiculous', as authorities there pursue 19 overseas-based members of what they describe as a subversive organisation. University of Technology Sydney China studies professor Dr Feng Chongyi – who in 2017 was detained for 10 days while on a research trip to China – now has a bounty on him over his involvement in an unofficial pro-democracy group, Hong Kong Parliament. He is accused of helping to organise or participate in the largely Canada-based group, which authorities in Hong Kong say aimed to subvert state power under a national security law that China imposed on the territory in 2020, following months of pro-democracy protests the year before. Feng and the others are accused of having launched a referendum or run as candidates in the unofficial 'Hong Kong Parliament' group, which authorities say aims at achieving self-determination and drafting a 'Hong Kong constitution'. Hong Kong police said the organisation sought to overthrow the governments of China and Hong Kong by unlawful means, that they were still investigating, and further arrests could follow. Loading Regarding its 'election' process, the Hong Kong Parliament group has said on social media that it drew about 15,700 valid votes through mobile app and online voting systems. It said the candidates and elected members came from around the world including Taiwan, Thailand, Australia, the US, Canada and the UK. Feng isn't from Hong Kong, but said he had agreed to join the group as an academic. 'It's certainly ridiculous, it does not offend me in any sense … they've got the power, they've got the influence overseas, they want to control everything even overseas,' Feng told this masthead on Saturday.

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