The Security Bureau of Hong Kong announced on the 12th that it has revoked the SAR passports of six wanted individuals under the National Security Law in the Hong Kong area. It also prohibited anyone from providing or dealing with funds related to them. One of the persons involved, Nathan Law, responded on social media stating that he had stopped using the SAR passport since 2021. In response, the Hong Kong government’s statement was deemed redundant by Law. Another individual, Lester Shum, claimed that he has never possessed a SAR passport and questioned how the government could cancel a passport that never existed.
The six individuals mentioned include former Legislative Council member Nathan Law, former General Secretary of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions Lee Cheuk-yan, activist Lester Shum, founder of British Hong Kong Overseas Association Ben Chung Man-kit, host of webcast “The Road to Dawn” Chris Hui Ka-chi, and Cai Mingda.
Nathan Law explained on Facebook that when he applied for asylum in the UK in 2020, he had already handed over his SAR passport to the UK Home Office and did not retrieve it even after the asylum application was successful. He reiterated that he stopped using the SAR passport since 2021, describing the government’s statement as unnecessary.
Concerning other measures established under Article 23 of the Basic Law, Nathan Law urged friends still in Hong Kong to prioritize their personal safety. In the politically tense atmosphere, he encouraged mutual support even if public endorsement or discussions are not possible, reminding everyone not to lose their sense of right and wrong.
Another individual whose SAR passport was revoked, Lester Shum, also took to Facebook to clarify that he only held a BNO passport and never had a SAR passport. He jokingly commented on the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities invoking Article 23 of the Basic Law on the “612 five-year anniversary”, expressing amusement at their haste to prevent people from forgetting what happened in 2019.
Security Bureau Chief John Tang announced six measures today, including the prohibition of providing or handling funds for the aforementioned six persons, not renting premises to them or renting premises from them, refraining from conducting business partnerships with them, revoking their SAR passports, and temporarily suspending their practice licenses and removal from directorial positions.