Hong Kong Bans Passport Issuance Of 16 Pro-Democracy Activists, Including Australian Professors And US Journalists

More than 1 million people rallied against Hong Kong's controversial Extradition Bill on June 9, 2019. (Unsplash-Joseph Chan)

JAKARTA - Hong Kong has banned the issuance of 16 passports of pro-democracy activists, 12 of whom are foreign nationals. They are considered to pose a threat to national security.

Citing Al Jazeera, Tuesday, August 5, the Hong Kong Security Bureau announced the policy after local courts issued arrest warrants for activists last month over their accusations of establishing Hong Kong's unofficial parliament abroad.

The policy also prohibits individuals from providing financial support, partnerships, or renting out property to the 16 "fugitives"

The seeked activists include Australian citizens as well as professors at Sydney University of Technology, Chongyi Feng and citizens of the United States (US) and journalists who previously worked for Voice of America, Sasha Gong.

Hong Kong authorities have accused the participation of 16 activists, including 3 others in the "Hong Kong Parliament" advocacy group, a subversion to the widespread national security law in the Chinese-ruled city.

Hong Kong parliament condemned the announcement of arrest warrants and gifts for activists last month as "discriminate use of legal instruments to carry out political persecution".

"These actions are a clear escalation of Beijing's transnational repression, expanding its coercive reach beyond China's borders and violating the sovereignty of democratic countries, including Britain, the US Canada, Australia, and EU members", the activists said.

A Hong Kong Government spokesman said the activists continued to be "discriminately involved in activities that jeopardize national security" while hiding in various countries, including the US, UK, Canada, and Australia.

Hong Kong, formerly known for its political opposition and media spirit, has radically restricted space for dissent since China passed the national security law in 2020 in response to violent anti-government protests.

Opposition parties have been effectively removed from city legislatures, and public warnings of sensitive events, such as the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, are basically prohibited.

Last month, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said 332 people had been arrested for being accused of national offenses since 2020.