5 wanted for alleged contravention of national security law in Hong Kong

HONG KONG -- The National Security Department (NSD) of the Hong Kong Police Force said on Thursday that the police have put five people on the wanted list, who have absconded overseas and are suspected of having committed offences under the national security law in Hong Kong.

The five wanted are Cheng Man-kit, Hui Wing-ting, Siu Joey, Fok Ka-chi and Choi Ming-da, who are alleged to have continued to commit offences under the national security law, including incitement to secession, incitement to subversion, and collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security.

A reward of 1 million HK dollars (about $128,064) in respect of each wanted person is being offered to anyone who can provide information on the wanted persons and the related cases.

Besides, the NSD took enforcement actions on Wednesday and arrested two men and two women who were suspected of committing the offence of "providing pecuniary assistance for the commission of secession by other persons" under the national security law in Hong Kong.

A spokesman for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government said on Thursday that the HKSAR government strongly supports the NSD in taking actions in accordance with the law.

The Security Bureau of the HKSAR government said in a statement that the national security law has extraterritorial effect. The police have the responsibility to pursue those who have allegedly committed offences under the national security law outside Hong Kong.

The Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR on Thursday issued a statement, expressing its firm support for the Hong Kong police's action, saying it can effectively prevent and stop anti-China disruptors who fled abroad from carrying out activities to endanger national security.

The office said it will continue to firmly support the HKSAR government in implementing the national security law in Hong Kong, and firmly support the Hong Kong police in taking action according to law to crack down on the anti-China agitators who fled overseas to ensure Hong Kong's stability and prosperity, and long-term implementation of "one country, two systems."

In July, the Hong Kong Police Force put eight people on the wanted list, who allegedly contravened the national security law in Hong Kong.