Hong Kong puts a price on the heads of democracy activists
And sends a terrible message to the people and businesses it is trying woo back
WHEN CHINA foisted its suffocating national-security law on Hong Kong on July 1st 2020—the 23rd anniversary of its handover from Britain—one gleeful official called it a “birthday present”. Days after this year’s anniversary came another surprise. On July 3rd Hong Kong police offered a reward of HK$1m ($128,000) for information leading to the arrest of any of eight pro-democracy activists and former lawmakers who had fled to the West.
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This article appeared in the China section of the print edition under the headline “Scrutiny on the bounty”
From the July 8th 2023 edition
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Amid random violence and increasing protests, fears mount for social stability
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As a trade war looms, China looks to cut its reliance on America
Helping America’s hawks get inside the head of Xi Jinping
China’s leader is a risk-taker. How far will he go in confronting America?
Snuffing out the flame of freedom in Hong Kong
Dozens of pro-democracy activists are thrown into jail for up to a decade