Authorities strengthened a crackdown on 16 overseas-based activists who were previously targeted by bounties on suspicion of endangering national security, implementing measures that include banning financial support to them and cancelling passports for most of them.
The activists were among 19 people who were targeted with arrest warrants in July for alleged roles in Hong Kong Parliament, a group the police called a subversive organisation abroad. The organisation is not the city’s official legislature and its influence is limited.
Secretary for Security Chris Tang banned providing funds or economic resources to the 16 activists, including Victor Ho, Keung Ka-wai, Australian academic Chongyi Feng and US citizen Gong Sasha, the Hong Kong government said in a statement.
The government also prohibited properties from being leased to the people on the list. Anyone violating the orders risks a penalty of up to seven years in prison.
The measures announced yesterday were issued under the powers granted by Hong Kong’s homegrown national security law enacted last year. — AP
