China’s chilling promise to two Aussie fugitives in wake of arrest warrants
China has assured two activists hiding in Australia that they won’t be killed on the spot, just weeks after issuing a bounty for their capture.
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The Chinese Communist Party has placed an eye-watering $200,000 bounty on two former Hong Kong residents now living in Australia for their capture.
And now a CCP politician is encouraging them to turn themselves in, claiming it will be for their own benefit as they will be “rehabilitated” back in China.
Kevin Yam and Ted Hui have had a target placed on their backs since the beginning of this month after being vocally critical over democracy slowly being eroded in Hong Kong.
They are among eight people the CCP has singled out by placing a bounty on them.
Hong Kong police announced a $HK1 million (A$191,800) bounty on Mr Yam, a Melbourne-based lawyer and Mr Hui, a former Hong Kong politician who now lives in Adelaide.
Six others were accused of breaking a sweeping national security law imposed by Beijing.
All eight people are alleged to have colluded with foreign forces to endanger national security – an offence that carries a sentence of up to life in prison under a sweeping security law.
Speaking to 60 Minutes, for an episode that aired on Sunday night, Regina Ip, a pro-Beijing politician and Convenor of Hong Kong’s Executive Council claimed that the nation did not plan to “exterminate” them if they managed to get the men on Chinese soil.
“We don’t seek to exterminate them,” Ms Ip told the program.
“In fact, if they go through our correctional services system, we will try to rehabilitate them.”
Also speaking to the news show, Mr Yam revealed he only learnt about his arrest warrant through Twitter.
“It felt weird,” Mr Yam said, describing the moment he learned of the bounty being placed on him.
“It almost feels like we are no longer just escaping persecution.”
Mr Yam played a part in the protests that swept through Hong Kong several years ago while he was living there, and he also publicly criticised the erosion of the region’s rule of law at a US Congress at the beginning of this year.
He believes he has been included on China’s ‘hit list’ because of these activities.
The other Australian resident being targeted in the bounty revealed to 60 Minutes he is worried China will kidnap his children.
Mr Hui lives in exile in Adelaide and is concerned about the safety of his two children.
“It‘s not very likely, but it’s possible for criminals hired by the regime to do terrible things,” Mr Hui said to 60 Minutes.
“They can kidnap children. It happened to many dissidents overseas, so it can happen to me,” he said.
Mr Hui earlier said the bounty was “ridiculous and hilarious” and added on Sunday “I need them (China) to know that Hong Kongers are still here. We‘re still speaking up for freedom of democracy even while we are away in exile”.
Three years after the imposition of the National Security Law, Australia remains deeply concerned by the erosion of Hong Kong’s autonomy.
— Senator Penny Wong (@SenatorWong) June 30, 2023
We urge the Chinese government to uphold the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Basic Law and Sino-British Joint Declaration.
At the time of their arrest warrants being issued earlier this month, the CCP accused them of subversion, incitement to subversion and secession.
“They have committed very serious offences that endanger national security,” said Steven Li, China’s chief superintendent of the national security department.
“They advocated for sanctions to damage Hong Kong’s interests and intimidate Hong Kong’s officials with some targeting specifically some judges and prosecutors,” Mr Li said.
He added that police cannot arrest the eight if they remain overseas.
“But we will not stop (chasing them),” he said.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who met Mr Hui and Mr Yam in her government offices in Adelaide in January, said the Australian government was “deeply disappointed” by the news of the arrest warrants.
“We have consistently expressed concerns about the broad application of the National Security Law to arrest or pressure pro-democracy figures and civil society,” Senator Wong said.
Originally published as China’s chilling promise to two Aussie fugitives in wake of arrest warrants
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