China offers £100k in help arresting UK-based human rights activists

China offers £100,000 for help leading to the arrests of three UK-based human rights activists as Beijing seeks their extradition

• Beijing demanded warrants for activists Nathan Law, Finn Lau and Mung Sui-Tat
• China offering £100k for help which leads to arrest of Hong Kong campaigners

China is seeking the return of three UK-based human rights activists – and is offering £100,000 for assistance leading to their arrests.

Beijing has approached Interpol to demand warrants for the trio who spoke out against repressive reforms in former UK colony Hong Kong.

Nathan Law, Finn Lau and Mung Siu-Tat are among eight persons Beijing wants to imprison for endangering national security.

While the UK does not extradite to China, the move could render the trio prisoners in this country – as their ability to travel freely could be compromised.

Two European Union states, Portugal and the Czech Republic are yet to suspend their extradition treaties with Beijing.

China is seeking the return of three UK-based human rights activists (Nathan Law pictured) – and is offering £100,000 for assistance leading to their arrests

Left: Finn Lau, activist in exile from Hong Kong and founder of Hong Kong Liberty, speaks during the rally at Parliament Square in June last year. Right: Members of Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU) including Mung Siu-tat (foreground) attend a protest

In recent years China has bombarded the crime agency with demands for ‘red notices’, meaning individuals could be arrested across the world.

Interpol is not supposed to be used for political purposes. However, its relationships with China and repressive Gulf states have been heavily criticised.

The £100,000 rewards have been offered to anyone providing information about the whereabouts of any of the activists leading to their arrest and subsequent prosecution by the Hong Kong authorities.

Mr Lau is facing a ‘foreign collusion’ charge, Mr Law is accused of dissent for meeting foreign politicians and speaking out against Hong Kong’s disregard for human rights.

Finn Lau told the Mail he has been chased by the Chinese authorities for three years. He described the bounty on his head as ‘a badge of honour’.

He wants to visit Portugal and the Czech republic to protest against their judicial relationships with China.

He said: ‘The £100,000 bounty reflect the frustration of the Hong Kong government. They are resorting to all means. But I will continue to advocate for democracy, human rights and pragmatic policies.

‘The Hong Kong democratic movement will not be stopped by the risk of abduction, physical assault and other non-legal ways. I am willing to risk my life to testify at the Portuguese and Czech parliaments. Glory and freedom to Hong Kong.’

While Nathan Law wrote on Twitter: ‘We should not limit ourselves, self-censor, be intimidated, or live in fear.’

The eight persons fled Hong Kong after Beijing imposed legislation banning dissent and free speech in 2020.

Twenty six years ago this month Britain handed Hong Kong back to China. Since then it has been accused of breaking promises made in 1997 to upholds freedoms and customs.

Hong Kong Chief Superintendent of Police (National Security) Li Kwai-wah speaks during a press conference to issue arrest warrants for eight activists, in Hong Kong on July 3

The national security laws introduced in the former British colony in 2020 have led to 260 arrests of pro-democracy politicians, activists, union leaders and journalists.

Since 2016 China has engaged Interpol in more than 3,000 investigations. At least 60 persons subject to Chinese red notices have been returned to Beijing.

In 2017 Interpol issued a red notice against Uyghur activist Idris Hasan. He has been held in captivity in Morocco since then and still faces extradition to China.

Such cases have led to the agency being labelled a ‘tool for dictators’.

But Steven Li, Chief Superintendent of Hong Kong’s national security department defended the arrest warrants, saying: ‘They have committed very serious offences.

‘They have advocated for sanctions to damage Hong Kong’s interests and intimidate Hong Kong’s officials. They are abroad, but we will not stop chasing them.’

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said: ‘We will not tolerate any attempts by China to intimidate and silence individuals in the UK and overseas. The UK will always defend the universal right to freedom of expression and stand up for those who are targeted.

‘We strongly object to the National Security Law that China imposed on Hong Kong, including its extraterritorial reach, in breach of the legally binding Sino-British Joint Declaration.

‘We call on Beijing to remove the National Security Law and for the Hong Kong authorities to end their targeting of those who stand up for freedom and democracy.’

The Mail has approached Interpol for comment.

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