By Canadian Press

Canadian activist accuses Hong Kong of meddling after reward for arrest

Dec 24, 2024 | 3:59 PM

VANCOUVER — A Canadian activist is accusing Hong Kong authorities of meddling in Canada’s internal affairs after police in the Chinese territory issued a warrant for his arrest.

Victor Ho and fellow Canadian Joe Tay are among six overseas activists targeted by Hong Kong police who announced rewards of HK $1 million, equivalent to about C$180,000, for information leading to their arrests.

The warrants announced on Tuesday say the six are wanted for national security offences such as secession, subversion and collusion with foreign forces.

Ho says in a Chinese-language post on Facebook that he’s proud of the arrest warrant, joking that it’s the “best Christmas present.”

But he says as a Canadian citizen he’s protected by the Canadian Charter and is exercising his right to freedom of speech.

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Ho is the former editor-in-chief of the Sing Tao Daily newspaper, and helped launched a plan in Canada to elect an unofficial “Hong Kong parliament” in 2022.

Only “patriots” are eligible for election in Hong Kong under a 2021 law passed by China’s parliament, the National People’s Congress, and pro-democracy protesters have been the subject of mass arrests.

Tay is the founder of Canada-based activist group HongKonger Station and is seeking the Conservative Party nomination in Markham Unionville in Ontario.

The Hong Kong Police say in a statement the six wanted activists have “absconded overseas.”

The Hong Kong government had previously issued two rounds of arrest warrants and bounties for other prominent activists, including ex-lawmakers.

In his Facebook post, Ho questioned whether Hong Kong authorities were “trying for another cross-border arrest” or if Beijing wants “Canada to become their client/subordinate state.”

He joked that the reward being issued had allowed him to recover some “fugitive dignity.”

“So I’m worth something after all, and it’s hard for me to hide my pride as we enter 2025,” he said.

Neither Ho nor Tay immediately responded to requests for comment.

— With files from Associated Press

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 24, 2024

The Canadian Press