Advocacy Group Condemns Hong Kong’s Arrest Warrant for Australian Professor

The Australian Values Alliance calls on the Labor government to take action against the Hong Kong authorities’ transnational repression.

Police detain a man after a pro-democracy march in Hong Kong, on Jan. 1, 2020. Isaac Lawrence/AFP via Getty Images

A community-based advocacy group has condemned the Hong Kong authorities for issuing an arrest warrant against one of its founding members, warning that the move infringes on Australia’s sovereignty.

This comes amid a recent increase in the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) transnational repression activities in other countries.

On July 25 (local time), the Hong Kong Police released a list of 19 individuals, including an Australian citizen, who are wanted for organising, establishing, or participating in the Hong Kong Parliament, which it called a “subversive organisation.”

Hong Kong Police alleged that Hong Kong Parliament has violated Article 22 of the National Security Law (NSL) by attempting to promulgate a different version of the Constitution, and overthrow the CCP’s socialist system and the Special Administrative Region government through “unlawful means.”

The NSL was introduced by the CCP in 2020 to suppress the growing pro-democracy movement by criminalising any acts that the communist regime deemed as subversion, terrorism, or collusion with foreign forces.

The law also marked the CCP’s full political takeover of the city, breaching the “one country, two systems” framework that Beijing had pledged to maintain until 2047, and effectively ending Hong Kong’s perceived autonomy.

Among the 19 wanted individuals is Australian citizen Feng Chongyi, an associate professor in China studies at the University of Technology Sydney.

Feng has been known as a vocal critic of the CCP, and has repeatedly raised the alarm about the communist regime’s efforts to influence Australian politics and Chinese-language media in the country over the years.

Hong Kong authorities have placed a bounty of HK$200,000 (A$39,000) on Feng and 14 others, while the remaining four individuals each have a bounty of HK$1 million.

Feng Chongyi, China expert and associate professor at the University of Technology in Sydney, speaks during an interview with NTD at an International Human Rights Day rally in Sydney, on Dec. 10, 2022. Wang Nan/NTD

Community Group Condemns Hong Kong Authorities

The Australian Values Alliance (AVA), a community-based advocacy group established by a group of Chinese Australians to promote democracy and other Australian core values, has criticised the Hong Kong authorities for their transnational repression act.

“The Australian Values Alliance strongly condemns the Hong Kong Authorities for issuing an arrest warrant with a bounty imposed on Dr. Feng Chongyi, an Australian citizen and an associate professor at the University of Technology, Sydney,” the AVA said in a statement.

“Feng is one of the founding members of the Australian Values Alliance, which was established in 2016.

“He is an academic of integrity and courage who has played a part in maintaining the values of democracy and freedom of Australia and containing the massive infiltration from  communist dictatorship.”

The AVA also raised concerns that the wanted list and bounties represent a dangerous move that oversteps the authorities’ legal and moral boundaries.

“The act of the Hong Kong Authorities is an attempt to apply the Hong Kong National Security Law across borders,” it said.

“It is not only a severe threat to the life and the freedom of expression and assembly of an Australian citizen, but also a blatant infringement of the national sovereignty of Australia.”

While calling for stronger personal safety protection for Feng, the advocacy group urged the federal Labor government to stand up against the Hong Kong authorities’ aggressive behaviour.

“We also request the Australian government to take solid actions against the transnational repression by the Hong Kong Authorities,” it said.

“The Hong Kong officials who are directly involved in policy-decision or execution of transnational repression should be named and listed as persona non grata and banned from entry to Australia permanently.”

Riot police march down a street as they take action to disperse protesters taking part in a pro-democracy rally in Hong Kong, on May 24, 2020. Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Images

Government’s Response

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong has voiced the Labor government’s objection to the wanted list and bounties on Australian citizens.

“Australia strongly objects to Hong Kong authorities issuing arrest warrants for pro-democracy advocates in Australia,” she said on social media.

“Freedom of expression and assembly are essential to our democracy.

“We have consistently expressed our strong objections to China and Hong Kong on the broad and extraterritorial application of Hong Kong’s national security legislation, and we will continue to do so.”

Meanwhile, the Opposition said it was concerned about the Hong Kong authorities’ move.

“The Coalition has serious concerns about the Hong Kong authorities’ issuing of arrest warrants for a number of pro-democracy advocates, including individuals in Australia,” Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Michaelia Cash said on social media.

“We fundamentally believe in free speech. It is an essential element of our democracy.”