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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday condemned Hong Kong’s recent offer of rewards for information leading to the arrest of 19 overseas activists, some of whom are based in the United States.
Rubio labelled the move a form of “transnational repression,” asserting that the US would not tolerate attempts by the Hong Kong government to apply its national security laws to silence or intimidate individuals on American soil.
Hong Kong police announced bounties on Friday, accusing the activists of national security crimes. They alleged the individuals were involved with the “subversive” Hong Kong Parliament, a pro-democracy non-governmental organisation established in Canada.
Rewards ranged from HK$200,000 ($25,500) for 15 activists, with four others already carrying a HK$1 million bounty.
Rubio criticised the warrants and bounties, stating that the Hong Kong government continues to “erode the autonomy that Beijing itself promised” after the 1997 handover.
He affirmed that the Trump administration would continue to defend freedom of speech and political discourse, calling them core American values.
