Six national security fugitives stripped of passports
Six people wanted here for alleged national security offences have been stripped of their SAR passports under homegrown national security legislation passed in March. People will also be barred from providing funds and resources to the six, dealing with assets and property owned by the fugitives, or entering into a joint venture with them. Those found in violation of the order against Nathan Law, Mung Siu-tat, Finn Lau, Simon Cheng, Johnny Fok and Tony Choi face seven years in prison. Mung and Choi have also been temporarily removed from their posts as company directors, while authorities also ordered a temporary suspension of qualification to practise for Fok.  In a statement, a government spokesman said security secretary Chris Tang issued the order against the six according to the national security law, after they fled to the United Kingdom. "These lawless wanted criminals are hiding in the United Kingdom and continue to blatantly engage in activities that endanger national security. They also make scaremongering remarks to smear and slander the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region," the spokesperson said.  "More so, they continue to collude with external forces to protect their evil deeds. We therefore have taken such measure to give them a strong blow." Speaking to reporters, Tang said the cancellation of passports did not violate the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.  "The Immigration Department will, according to our law, cancel their passports. And there's a well-established mechanism among different countries regarding how to notify the cancellation of passports," he said. "There's absolutely no contravention to the covenant... according to all those covenants, there are exceptions because of national security grounds. This is not just applicable to Hong Kong, but applies to all civilised societies."  With some of the six active on fundraising platforms, the security secretary warned that people could breach the order by giving monetary support to them.  "It is an offence to provide funds or to handle funds for those specified absconders, no matter what platform it is," he said.  Tang said authorities must take action against the six, whom he said Britain was harbouring, adding that officials could issue similar orders in future when necessary._____________________________
Last updated: 2024-06-12 HKT 11:46 