Hong Kong Expands Crackdown on Overseas Activists, Faces Global Condemnation
- Human Rights Research Center
- Aug 11
- 3 min read
Author: Aamnah Fatima Khan
August 11, 2025
HRRC condemns Hong Kong’s imposition of transnational repression against overseas pro-democracy activists, calling it a blatant assault on fundamental freedoms and the rule of law. We urge the immediate repeal of these punitive measures and reaffirm that dissent is not a crime but a democratic right.
![A pedestrian looks at the police reward notices for the arrest warrants issued for eight pro-democracy activists living in the United States, Britain, Canada and Australia for alleged national security offenses in Hong Kong, in July 2023. [Image credit: Louise Delmotte / AP]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e28a6b_5627222078cf4246a5e131c9c26ec163~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_960,h_640,al_c,q_90,enc_avif,quality_auto/e28a6b_5627222078cf4246a5e131c9c26ec163~mv2.png)
Authorities in Hong Kong have intensified their campaign against 16 pro-democracy activists based overseas, imposing new measures such as property restrictions, financial sanctions and passport cancellations. The targeted individuals are among 19 activists previously sought by government authorities over alleged involvement with the unofficial “Hong Kong Parliament,” which police label a subversive organization. Similar actions had already been taken against three of the 19 last year.
Security Secretary Chris Tang announced bans on providing funds or economic resources to the 16, including Canadians Victor Ho and Keung Ka-wai, Australian academic Chongyi Feng, and US citizen Gong Sasha. Twelve of them also had their Hong Kong passports withdrawn, and they were banned from leasing property or establishing joint ventures with the individuals listed. Violations of these laws might result in a maximum sentence of seven years in jail.
The activists are believed to reside in countries such as the UK, the US, Canada, Germany, Australia, Thailand and Taiwan. The administration of Hong Kong accused them of using "smear and slander" to "incite hatred" against the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. According to officials, the actions were taken in accordance with Hong Kong's domestic national security law, which was passed in 2020 and supplemented by a 2024 law, used to quell dissent following the 2019 protests.
The crackdown follows July arrest warrants and bounties ranging from HK $200,000 ($25,480 USD) to HK $1 million ($127,400 USD) for information leading to their capture. Several targeted activists, including three Canadian nationals and six with Canadian ties, have been charged with organizing or taking part in an overseas election for the Hong Kong Parliament that garnered roughly 15,700 valid votes through the internet and smartphone apps.
The United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Canada, and G7 countries have sharply condemned the actions, calling them "transnational repression" that threatens democracy, human rights and sovereignty. Attempts to intimidate Americans on US land will not be tolerated, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared. Pro-democracy organizations in Canada have called on Ottawa to impose specific sanctions on Hong Kong authorities, judges, and prosecutors who are suspected of participating in judicial repression.
Glossary
Bounties – Rewards offered for capturing or providing information about someone
Blatant – Very obvious and done openly without shame
Condemnation – Strong disapproval of something
Dissent – Disagreement or opposition to an idea or policy
Escalation – A rapid increase or intensification of something
Incite – To encourage or stir up harmful actions or feelings
Intimidate – To frighten or threaten someone into doing something
Joint ventures – an arrangement where two or more parties agree to pool their resources to accomplish a specific task or project.
Judicial Repression – refers to the use of the legal system to suppress dissent, limit freedoms, and maintain political control, often by targeting political opponents, activists, or minority groups.
Leasing – Renting something, usually property, for a period of time
Persecutors – People who treat others cruelly, often because of beliefs or identity
Punitive – Intended as punishment
Quell – To put an end to something, often by force
Repression – Controlling or limiting freedom through force or strict rules
Sanctions – Official penalties or restrictions imposed for breaking laws or rules
Smear – To damage someone’s reputation with false or unfair claims
Slander – Spoken false statements that harm someone’s reputation
Sovereignty – The authority of a state to govern itself
Subversive – Intended to weaken or overthrow an established system
Supplemented – Added to something to make it stronger or more complete
Suspected – Believed to be guilty or involved without proof
Transitional – Related to a period of change from one state to another
Transitional Repression – is a type of political repression conducted by a state outside its borders. It often involves targeting political dissidents or critical members of diaspora communities abroad and can take the forms of assassinations and/or enforced disappearances of citizens, among others
Sources
