Hong Kong Defends Its Hunt for Dissidents Overseas
The regime’s secretary for security responds to the Journal’s editorial. July 9, 2023 11:22 am ET Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee, July 4. Photo: Michael Ho Wai Lee/Zuma Press I am appalled by your editorial “Hong Kong’s Global Bounty Hunters” (July 5). The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China (HKSAR) has a duty to make every effort to bring to justice people who have absconded overseas and allegedly committed offenses under the law, including Hong Kong’s national-security law. It is a common practice of the police, in line with international practice, to release information of fugitive offenders who have allegedly committed serious offenses and are wanted, and appeal to members of the public to assist in bringing them to justice. Extraterritoriality is also a common feature of national-security laws in many countries, including the U.K., U.S.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee, July 4.
Photo: Michael Ho Wai Lee/Zuma Press
I am appalled by your editorial “Hong Kong’s Global Bounty Hunters” (July 5). The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China (HKSAR) has a duty to make every effort to bring to justice people who have absconded overseas and allegedly committed offenses under the law, including Hong Kong’s national-security law.
It is a common practice of the police, in line with international practice, to release information of fugitive offenders who have allegedly committed serious offenses and are wanted, and appeal to members of the public to assist in bringing them to justice. Extraterritoriality is also a common feature of national-security laws in many countries, including the U.K., U.S. and Australia. Your suggestion that China and the HKSAR should be held to different standards is sheer hypocrisy.
Endangering national security is a serious offense. No country should harbor criminals. Your suggestion that we have abused our laws also turns a blind eye to how the wanted persons allegedly have continued to engage in acts endangering national security.
No one is above the law, and the Hong Kong Police Force will take all necessary measures in accordance with the law to bring the persons concerned to justice.
Tang Ping-keung
Secretary for Security
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
It is puzzling that the White House is still mulling over a decision to invite Hong Kong chief executive John Lee to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco. As you write, “Free societies need to show China and Hong Kong that we take our own laws as seriously as Hong Kong and China so readily abuse theirs.”
In this case, eight Chinese exiles living abroad have been targeted by the Hong Kong government. The former British colony that was once known as a haven for Chinese refugees in the 1950s and ’60s is now issuing arrest warrants and bounty for the pro-democracy advocates overseas. It’s time for the free world to stand up for Chinese citizens in peril.
Brian Stuckey
Denver
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