"Nathan Law and others have long been involved in anti-China and anti-Hong Kong activities," said Lin Jian, a Chinese diplomat spokesman.
"His despicable behavior has seriously endangered national security, harmed Hong Kong's fundamental interests and undermines the principle of 'one country, two systems'," he added.
The Hong Kong Government today announced the cancellation of the passports of the semi-autonomous Chinese region of six pro-democracy activists residing in the United Kingdom, accused of crimes against national security.
In a statement, Hong Kong's Secretary for Security said that "all of them continue to carry out acts and activities that endanger national security after having fled to the United Kingdom."
The activists are Nathan Law Kwun-chung, founder of the political party Demosisto and former MP, Simon Cheng Man-kit, co-founder of the group "Hong Kongers in Britain", trade unionist Christopher Mung Siu- tat, lawyer Johnny Fok Ka-chi, Tony Choi Ming-da and Finn Lau Cho-dik.
In addition to canceling their passports, Hong Kong also banned the six activists from accessing funds in the territory, selling or buying real estate in the city and creating 'joint-ventures' or partnerships.
Hong Kong police warned in the statement that anyone who helps any of the activists to circumvent these measures "commits a crime and risks a seven-year prison sentence if convicted."
A spokesperson for the Hong Kong Government described the measures as "a strong blow" against "these wanted outlaw criminals".
Authorities accused the activists of "making alarmist comments to defame and slander the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region" and of continuing "to collude with external forces."
In December, the Hong Kong police had offered rewards worth one million Hong Kong dollars (less than 120 thousand euros) for information leading to the capture of five activists living abroad, accused of crimes against national security.
The wanted activists have been living abroad since Beijing imposed a national security law on Hong Kong in 2020, cracking down on political dissent following a wave of pro-democracy protests in 2019.
In early May, the British Public Prosecutor's Office accused the director of Hong Kong's commercial office in London and two other men of helping authorities in the Chinese region gather information in the United Kingdom.
On the 3rd of this month, China's Ministry of State Security said it had detained two Chinese nationals for allegedly being part of an espionage plan launched by the UK secret services MI6.
In July 2023, activist Finn Lau, one of the targets of the measures announced today, told Lusa that Portugal must suspend the extradition agreement with Hong Kong, after the new national security law comes into force.
Portugal and the Czech Republic are the only two EU countries that still have extradition agreements in force with the Chinese region.
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