Recently, the Hong Kong authorities have issued wanted orders for 19 overseas individuals, including organizers of the “Hong Kong Parliament” and elected members, sparking strong condemnation from countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom. Several wanted democracy activists have stated that the cross-border law enforcement actions by the Chinese Communist Party and the Hong Kong government seriously challenge international law and the authority of sovereign nations, with the wanted orders boosting the international recognition of the “Hong Kong Parliament” and highlighting the global resonance of democratic values.
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio explicitly stated in a statement on Saturday that the United States will not tolerate the Hong Kong government using the National Security Law to suppress or intimidate American citizens. He pointed out that this foreign “cross-border suppression” against Hong Kong people exercising basic freedoms violates Beijing’s promise of autonomy for the people of Hong Kong upon its return in 1997.
Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand and Minister of Public Safety Gary Anandasangaree issued a joint statement on Saturday, stating that the wanted orders by the Hong Kong authorities are “absolutely intolerable.” The statement specifically noted that the Canadian government has found that the bounty information from the Hong Kong government is being disseminated through online accounts targeting the Chinese-speaking community “in a false and organized manner,” warning that such actions threaten Canadian sovereignty and security.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper also criticized the move by the Hong Kong government as “another example of cross-border suppression,” damaging Hong Kong’s international reputation.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed strong opposition through social media, emphasizing the importance of freedom of speech and assembly for democratic systems.
Among the 19 individuals wanted by the Hong Kong government are Yeung Kong Yi, Ho Leung Mau, Horace Chin Chi, and Tsoi Ming Tat, including 9 organizers of the “Hong Kong Parliament” and 10 elected “legislators” who took their oaths of office after being elected. The first election of the “Hong Kong Parliament” was completed in June this year, with a total of 15 candidates receiving 15,702 valid votes through a global voting process.
The first legislators held an online oath-taking ceremony on July 21 and were wanted by the Hong Kong authorities on the 25th. This action by the Hong Kong government has received support from the National Security Office of the Chinese Communist Party in Hong Kong.
According to statistics, including the latest list, a total of 34 people are currently wanted by the Hong Kong police. As of July 1, the Hong Kong police have arrested 333 individuals accused of violating the Hong Kong National Security Law, with 165 already convicted.
One of the organizers of the “Hong Kong Parliament,” Yeung Kong Yi, stated to Epoch Times on July 27 that the wanted actions of the Hong Kong government have actually generated a “free publicity” effect, with each wanted order bringing more international attention to the “Hong Kong Parliament” and garnering wider sympathy and support. The authorities’ attempts to suppress dissent through high-pressure tactics have instead deepened international understanding of the true situation in Hong Kong.
Yeung Kong Yi further elaborated on the institutional significance of the “Hong Kong Parliament”: “For groups needing a deeper understanding of democracy, establishing a representative parliament is a key step towards democratic governance. True democracy must be achieved through elected representatives negotiating and solving issues in parliament, a core mechanism that official institutions cannot replace.”
Associate Professor Feng Chong Yi from the University of Technology Sydney analyzed the legitimacy basis of the “Hong Kong Parliament” from a political theory perspective. He told Epoch Times that the core ideology of the parliament is the principle of “sovereignty in the people,” aimed at addressing the legitimacy crisis brought about by the current role of the Hong Kong government as a proxy for the Chinese Communist Party. Functionally, the “Hong Kong Parliament” provides an important cohesive platform for suppressed and dispersed Hong Kong democratic activists.
Feng Chong Yi particularly pointed out that the wanted actions involve the exercise of extraterritorial jurisdiction over citizens of other countries, constituting a violation of basic human rights and posing a serious challenge to international law and the sovereignty of relevant countries.
As a member of the Election Committee, Feng Chong Yi, together with Ho Leung Mau from Canada, Gong Xiaoxia from the United States, and Wu Wenxin from Europe, constitutes a global election supervision mechanism aimed at ensuring the credibility and representativeness of the election process. He stated that the mission of the Election Committee is fulfilled once the members have officially taken office, but the provocative nature of the wanted actions is evident.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and opposition leaders have clearly expressed their opposition on social media, showcasing a bipartisan stance. Canada not only condemns the wanted actions but also pays special attention to the phenomenon of false dissemination of information within the Chinese-speaking community, demonstrating a high level of alertness to information warfare and manipulation of public opinion.
The swift and widespread reactions of Western countries to this matter reflect the general recognition of parliamentary systems by democratic nations. Yeung Kong Yi analyzed that as democratic countries commonly have parliamentary systems, strong values and sympathies are shown towards the plight of the “Hong Kong Parliament.” This reaction pattern indicates that the “Hong Kong Parliament” has evolved from a conceptual advocacy into a political institution with substantive democratically elected representatives.
Looking to the future, Yeung Kong Yi stated that the “Hong Kong Parliament” will follow the development path of global democratic countries, with the primary task being the establishment of a constitution as the fundamental basis for future governance. He cited Taiwan’s democratic practices as an example, emphasizing that despite challenges, the right of people to express their will through elections and referendums embodies the core values of a democratic system.