Hong Kong File Photo: VCG

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government issued a notice on Tuesday, listing seven anti-China disruptors as absconders, including Ted Hui Chi-fung and Dennis Kwok Wing-hang. Measures have been implemented against them, including canceling their SAR passports.

These seven absconders have been engaging in acts and activities endangering national security overseas. After the warrants of arrest were issued and before the specification was made, these seven absconders who fled to the US and Australia respectively have not returned to Hong Kong to surrender themselves, according to the statement issued by the HKSAR government on Tuesday.

According to the statement, the four measures applicable to all seven relevant absconders include: "Prohibition against making available funds etc or dealing with funds etc," "Prohibition against certain activities in connection with immovable property," "Prohibition in connection with joint ventures or partnerships with relevant absconders" and "Cancellation of HKSAR passports etc." Moreover, two measures, namely "Suspension of qualification to practice" and "Temporary removal from office of director" are applicable to individual relevant absconders, according to the SAR government.

Secretary for Security of the HKSAR Chris Tang Ping-keung pointed out at a press conference on Tuesday that the aforementioned anti-China disruptors who absconded are continuing to engage in activities that endanger national security. Among them, Hui Chi-fung is still illegally raising funds online to conduct activities that endanger national security. The Hong Kong Police Force has issued a wanted notice for him and will confiscate his illegal proceeds. Tang emphasized that the implementation of a series of measures against those anti-China disruptor aims to combat and deter actions that jeopardize national security, delivering a heavy blow to those who have fled overseas.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police (National Security) in Hong Kong, Kan Kai-yan, announced on Tuesday that the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force has issued a wanted notice for six individuals who have fled overseas: Joseph Tay, Tony Chung, Chung Kim-wah, Victor Ho, Chloe Cheung, and Carmen Lau, identified as anti-China disruptors.

In response, at the regular press conference on Tuesday, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning said that we support the HKSAR government in performing duties in accordance with the law. "Hong Kong upholds the rule of law. No one has privileges above the law. Any illegal activities will inevitably be punished by law," Mao said.

As absconders and fugitives broke the law and order and showed no respect to the law, they have completely lost their integrity and trust, Chu Kar-kin, a veteran current affairs commentator and deputy secretary-general of the Hong Kong Association for Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China, told the Global Times on Tuesday. Suspending their legal practitioners' qualifications, and preventing their engagement in professional services which may deal with documents and funds, protect the best interests of the community, Chu said.

The Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR issued a statement on Tuesday, firmly supporting the HKSAR government in lawfully carrying out law enforcement activities against anti-China disruptors, saying they are aimed at effectively upholding the dignity of the law and safeguarding national security.

Maintaining national security, sovereignty, and development interests is the highest principle of "one country, two systems." The decision to cancel the passports of seven absconders is constitutional, lawful, and reasonable, and deserves the support of the general public, Willy Fu, a law professor who is also the director of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong & Macao Studies, told the Global Times. The only way out for these absconders is to return to Hong Kong and face the legal consequences they deserve, Fu said.