Nathan Law 'wanted For National Security Crimes'

Mainland media reported on Friday that police have issued arrest warrants for prominent pro-democracy activist Nathan Law and five other Hongkongers suspected of breaching the city's new national security law.

Broadcaster CCTV said Law, former UK consulate worker Simon Cheng, and activists Ray Wong, Samuel Chu, Wayne Chan and Honcques Laus are wanted for allegedly inciting secession and collusion with foreign forces.

The Global Times described the six as "secessionists" and said they had all fled overseas.

CCTV said Law, a disqualified lawmaker and former member of the now-disbanded Demosisto group, had fled to the UK out of fear of the national security law.

In response to the news that he is a wanted man, Law said on Facebook that he has no idea what his "crime" could be, and perhaps the answer is that he "loves Hong Kong too much".

He said the reality of his new life in exile "disappoints, incapacitates and frightens" him.

Law said his advocacy work overseas is conducted in his own capacity, without any collaboration with others.

He added: "Since leaving Hong Kong, I have stopped contacting members of my family. From now on, I'll sever my relationship with them."

In its brief report, CCTV also repeated a previous claim made against Cheng that he had visited prostitutes while on a visit to the mainland in August 2019. Last November, mainland police released footage of the former consulate worker's supposed "confession".

He later told Western media that he had been tortured by officers in Shenzhen who were trying to extract information about the anti-government protests taking place at the time in Hong Kong.

In June, Cheng was granted asylum in the UK. Honcques Laus said this week that he too is seeking asylum in the country.

Last year it was revealed that Wong, who once led the pro-independence group Hong Kong Indigenous, had been given asylum in Germany. He had skipped bail after being charged in connection with the 2016 Mong Kok riot.

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