LegCo Photo:VCG

China's Foreign Ministry called on Wednesday the latest action of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to cancel passports of six absconders currently living in UK including anti-China rioters Nathan Law Kwun-chung and Simon Cheng Man-kit necessary, justifiable and lawful. 

The Secretary for Security of the HKSAR government announced on Wednesday to impose several measures targeting six persons who have absconded to the UK and are subject to warrants of arrest issued by the court for being suspected of having committed offences endangering national security. 

Canceling their HKSAR passports is among those measures. Other measures include prohibition against making available funds or dealing with funds, prohibition against certain activities in connection with immovable property, prohibition in connection with joint ventures or partnerships with relevant absconders. 

Besides, the measures of suspension of qualification to practice and temporary removal from office of director are applicable to individual relevant absconders, the authority said. 

Nathan Law and others have long engaged in anti-China and destabilizing activities in Hong Kong, severely endangering national security, harming Hong Kong's fundamental interests, and undermining the bottom line of ''One Country, Two Systems'' principle, the Chinese Foreign Ministry's spokesperson Lin Jian said on Wednesday.  

The actions taken by the Hong Kong police under the National Security Law for Hong Kong to address these individuals are legitimate and necessary measures to uphold the rule of law in Hong Kong and safeguard national security, the spokesperson said. 

"These actions are reasonable, justifiable, and lawful," he said, noting that Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs and are not subject to any foreign interference.

Regarding the use of the tool that may be used to provide funds to those absconders, Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung reiterated on Wednesday that it is an offence to provide funds or to handle funds for those specified absconders, no matter what platform is used.

When asked if subscribing to these absconders' YouTube channels, how would government monitor the subscription, Tang said that anyone, by any means or platform, who handles or provides funds for them would violate the relevant regulations and would face imprisonment of up to seven years, noting the police will act based on evidence. 

If these individuals wish to return to Hong Kong and surrender, they are welcome to do so by contacting the Immigration Department, which will issue a temporary entry permit, Tang noted. 

These measures aim to prevent them from misusing their HKSAR resident status and passports to continue engaging in activities that endanger national security, Chu Kar-kin, a veteran commentator based in the HKSAR and member of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, told the Global Times on Wednesday. 

"The invalidation of their HKSAR passports also means that their overseas bank accounts could be canceled or frozen, and the revocation of their legal documents will also reduce their ability to purchase property, rent property, invest in partnerships or joint ventures, sign contracts, be employed, serve as salaried directors of companies, or receive donations," Chu said. 

Without passports, these individuals will be difficult to travel around the world to smear Hong Kong. If they encounter problems, they will not be able to seek emergency services provided by our overseas consulates, experts said. 

"As discarded pawns with no value, these fugitives should not expect foreign countries to grant them legal citizenship or quasi-citizenship status and treatment," Chu said.