Hong Kong, China Condemn G7 Criticism Over Arrest Warrants, Bounties on Activists

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) government, along with the Chinese Embassy in Britain and the Chinese Foreign Ministry's Commissioner's Office in Hong Kong, strongly condemned the Group of Seven (G7) nations' recent criticism of Hong Kong's issuance of arrest warrants and bounties against overseas activists accused of endangering national security. The G7, including countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States, and supported by the European Union and associate members Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, and Sweden, characterized these actions as "transnational repression" that undermine human rights, national sovereignty, and freedom of expression. Hong Kong authorities maintain that these fugitives are wanted for criminal acts under the National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, which target only a small number of individuals endangering security, and insist that pursuing them abroad is a lawful duty. The Chinese Embassy and Hong Kong officials accused the G7 of interference in China's internal affairs, hypocrisy, and fabricating excuses to shield criminals. The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between Western democracies' advocacy for human rights and Hong Kong's enforcement of stringent national security laws implemented after the 2019 protests. Hong Kong asserts that these laws are essential for maintaining stability and that those accused will face legal sanctions regardless of their location.