Hong Kong Bans Overseas Activists, Revokes Passports and Financial Support

Hong Kong bans overseas activists as part of a major escalation in its national security crackdown. On Monday, authorities canceled travel documents and prohibited financial and property support for 16 pro-democracy activists living abroad.

These activists, previously targeted with arrest warrants and cash bounties, are accused of endangering national security through their alleged involvement in “Hong Kong Parliament,” an overseas group deemed subversive by local police.

Broad Sanctions Against Global Dissidents

The new measures, announced by Security Secretary Chris Tang, apply to 16 individuals living in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Germany, Australia, Thailand, and Taiwan. The government canceled Hong Kong passports for 12 of them and imposed restrictions that bar anyone from providing them with funds, leasing property to them, or entering business partnerships.

Violators could face up to seven years in prison, according to the official statement.

Among those targeted are U.S. citizen Gong Sasha, Australian academic Chongyi Feng, Victor Ho, and Keung Ka-wai. The Hong Kong government accused them of inciting hatred against China and Hong Kong through “smear and slander.”

“We therefore have taken such measures to make a significant impact,” said the government in the statement.

Global Criticism and Tensions Rise

The move has intensified tensions with Western nations. The U.S., U.K., and EU previously condemned Hong Kong’s July arrest warrants. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the actions “transnational repression,” vowing to resist attempts to silence Americans.

“This extraterritorial targeting of Hong Kongers who are exercising their fundamental freedoms is a form of transnational repression,” Rubio stated.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry defended the crackdown, insisting it is a legitimate step to safeguard national stability.

Context: A Tightening Security Net

Since the 2020 imposition of Beijing’s national security law, Hong Kong has seen widespread suppression of dissent. Many activists were imprisoned or fled abroad. The new measures were enacted under Hong Kong’s homegrown security law passed in 2024, expanding the government’s reach beyond its borders.

In addition to passport cancellations and funding bans, authorities offered rewards ranging from $25,000 to over $127,000 for tips leading to the activists’ arrests.

The clampdown reflects a broader effort by Hong Kong and Beijing to neutralize overseas opposition, despite growing international backlash.