Hong Kong authorities have used powers granted to them under a newly enacted security law to revoke the passports of six democracy activists living in exile in the UK.
Hong Kong said Wednesday it had canceled the passports of six democracy activists who fled to the United Kingdom, calling them “lawless wanted criminals.”
The six people affected are former pro-democracy lawmaker Nathan Law, veteran unionist Mung Siu-tat, and activists Simon Cheng, Finn Lau, Fok Ka-chi and Choi Ming-da.
“These lawless wanted criminals are hiding in the United Kingdom and continue to blatantly engage in activities that endanger national security,” a Hong Kong government spokesperson said.
“They also make scaremongering remarks to smear and slander the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region,” the official added.
statement.
Writing on the social media platform X, Lau said the move was “an explicit act of transnational repression” but it would not stop him from campaigning for what he believed in. He said he had never applied for, or had, a passport for the HKSAR, Hong Kong’s official name.
“The act of repression does not deter me from advocating for human rights & democracy,” he wrote. “The fighting spirit of Hongkongers, including mine, remains.”
On Facebook, Law said he not had a HKSAR passport since he was granted asylum in the UK in the 2021 and the Hong Kong government’s decision was “unnecessary”.
