Arrest warrants have been issued against five people for alleged contravention of the National Security Law who have absconded overseas and they have been placed on the wanted list, Police’s National Security Department announced today.

The five suspects comprise three men - Cheng Man-kit, Fok Ka-chi and Choi Ming-da, and two women - Hui Wing-ting and Joey Siu. Police said they have fled overseas and are alleged to have continued to commit the offences of incitement to secession, incitement to subversion and collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security.

A reward of $1 million in respect of each wanted person is being offered to those who can provide information on the suspects or the related cases.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government said in a statement that it strongly supports the National Security Department in taking actions in accordance with the law by placing the five suspects on the wanted list, noting that safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests is the top priority of the “one country, two systems” principle as well as the responsibility of the Hong Kong SAR.

These wanted suspects have repeatedly engaged in acts and activities that endanger national security publicly, including advocating to achieve Hong Kong independence through force and requesting foreign countries to impose so-called “sanctions” on officials of the central government and the Hong Kong SAR Government as well as judicial and law enforcement personnel, the statement said.

The Hong Kong SAR Government must fight head-on to fulfil its constitutional duty in safeguarding national security and uphold the principle of “one country, two systems” and the spirit of the rule of law, it added.

Expressing support to the Police’s National Security Department, the Security Bureau said the National Security Law has extraterritorial effect and Police have the responsibility to pursue those who have allegedly committed offences under the security law outside Hong Kong.

As with the eight suspects who were put on the wanted list earlier, these five suspects have fled overseas and allegedly continued to commit offences under the National Security Law and their malicious acts have been seen through by all, the bureau said.

No matter how countries and politicians harbouring these absconders unreasonably smear the action, Police will take all necessary measures steadfastly and fearlessly to prevent, suppress and impose punishment for acts and activities endangering national security in accordance with the law, upholding the principle that laws are observed so as to bring offenders to account with a view to safeguarding national security, the bureau added.

Meanwhile, the National Security Department has arrested two men and two women on suspicion of "providing pecuniary assistance for the commission of secession by other persons" in violation of the National Security Law.

Investigations revealed that between December 2020 and November 2023, the arrestees allegedly provided pecuniary assistance via an online crowdfunding platform to two wanted people who have engaged in secessionist activities and absconded overseas, and the amount ranged from $10,000 to $120,000.

The four arrested people, aged between 29 and 68, are being detained for further enquiries.

The force emphasised that it is an offence to incite, assist in, abet or provide pecuniary or other financial assistance or property to another person, by any means whatsoever including through online platforms, for committing offences endangering national security.

Police will take strict enforcement action against such illegal acts and urge members of the public to abide by the law.