The United States strongly condemns the Hong Kong government’s recent actions, which include issuing new arrest warrants and bounties targeting six overseas democracy activists, as well as canceling the passports of seven other activists, some of whom reside in the United States. These measures are seen as an attempt to intimidate and silence individuals who have chosen to exercise their freedoms abroad.
The United States firmly opposes these efforts, reiterating its unwavering commitment to defending individuals targeted for exercising their fundamental right to freedom of expression. Such actions represent an alarming escalation in the extraterritorial application of national security laws, a form of transnational repression that undermines sovereignty and threatens human rights and fundamental freedoms globally.
The Hong Kong government’s use of these laws to stifle dissent reflects a disregard for international norms and the principles of free expression and peaceful assembly. The United States calls on Hong Kong authorities to cease employing these tactics and to respect the rights of individuals to voice their opinions without fear of retaliation.