The Secretary for Security today exercised the powers conferred by the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance to specify seven individuals who have absconded to the US and Australia and are subject to warrants of arrest on suspicion of having committed offences endangering national security, and describe the measures to be applied against them by notices published in the Government Gazette.

The specified absconders include four men, namely Yuan Gong-yi, Kwok Wing-hang, Hui Chi-fung and Yam Kevin. The three female absconders are Kwok Fung-yee, Hui Wing-ting and Siu Joey.

The four measures applicable to all seven absconders include: "prohibition against making available funds etc or dealing with funds etc", "prohibition against certain activities in connection with immovable property", "prohibition in connection with joint ventures or partnerships with relevant absconders", and "cancellation of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passports etc".

Moreover, two additional measures - "suspension of qualification to practise" and "temporary removal from office of director", are applicable to individual relevant absconders.

The Government noted that the seven wanted criminals continue to blatantly engage in activities endangering national security, inciting secession and subversion, and requesting foreign countries to impose “sanctions” or blockade and engage in other hostile activities against the People's Republic of China and Hong Kong.

To a greater extent, they continue to collude with external forces to be covered for their evil deeds, and it is necessary to take measures to strongly combat the acts of abscondment, it added.

The Government also pointed out that time had been given for them to return to Hong Kong for law enforcement and legal proceedings before the measures were taken, but they did not cherish the opportunity and did not return to surrender themselves.

Police reminded the public that except under the authority of a licence granted by the Secretary for Security, any person, whether directly or indirectly, making available any funds or other financial assets or economic resources to a relevant absconder, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for seven years.

Meanwhile, legal proceedings will also be initiated against Hui Chi-fung to confiscate his proceeds of crime. The Government explained that he had committed numerous heinous crimes, with a number of criminal charges laid against him.

According to the Implementation Rules for Article 43 of the National Security Law, Police today published a notice of legal proceedings in respect of the arrest warrant against him.

Hui Chi-fung was charged in 2020 with contempt of the Legislative Council, criminal damage, attempting to pervert the course of justice, access to computer with dishonest intent, and administering to any other person a noxious thing with intent to injure, aggrieve, or annoy such person', etc.

In the same year, he conspired with foreign politicians to forge documents and deceived the court with false information to obtain the court's permission to leave Hong Kong while on bail.

Hui Chi-fung pretended to go on an official visit to Denmark, but in fact he jumped bail and absconded overseas to evade criminal responsibility.

The Government indicated that upon investigation, sufficient evidence was found to prove that he had committed and profited from offences endangering national security, and had transferred some of his assets to his wife and mother.

The Government emphasised that it is necessary to take further measures to confiscate the proceeds of Hui Chi-fung's criminal acts and prevent his use of the proceeds in further acts and activities endangering national security.

Noting that endangering national security is a very serious offence, the Government stressed that it has the responsibility to pursue the legal liabilities of those who have committed the relevant offence.