Walking Around: Concerns Over Intensifying Crackdowns Under Security Warrants

On Monday, the Hong Kong police held a rare press conference to announce the national security department’s wanted list. The eight individuals on the list are all overseas, with a reward of HKD 1 million for each. Some names are frequently mentioned by officials, while others are somewhat surprising to hear. Why does this rare, publicly disclosed wanted list include these individuals first?

The front-page headline of the Ta Kung Pao featured former Legislative Council members Nathan Law, Ted Hui, and Dennis Kwok, who are all accused of colluding with foreign forces. Nathan Law and Ted Hui are also accused of inciting secession, and Ted Hui faces an additional charge of inciting subversion of state power. In February this year, the police sent a letter to Ted Hui’s representative lawyer, stating that he was suspected of violating Articles 20, 21, and 29 of the National Security Law in August 2021. However, this wanted notice does not include Article 20, which pertains to “organizing, planning, committing, or participating in acts of secession”.

Eunice Yung’s father-in-law, Elmer Yuen, is accused of repeatedly calling for foreign sanctions against Hong Kong officials and judicial officers from July 2020 to May 2023. He is also accused of organizing the “Hong Kong Parliament” to implement “self-determination” and subvert state power.