The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government said today that it strongly opposes untrue and biased remarks made by the US and Group of Seven Rapid Response Mechanism (G7 RRM) members and associate members with regard to Hong Kong's pursuit of persons wanted in connection with national security offences.

The other G7 RRM members are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the European Union.

In a statement, the Hong Kong SAR Government said the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong SAR, and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance clearly stipulate that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security.

It outlined that the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong residents under the Basic Law and under the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social & Cultural Rights as applicable to the Hong Kong SAR, are protected in accordance with the law.

Legislation that safeguards national security only targets a very small number of organisations and individuals that endanger national security, the Hong Kong SAR Government added.

It iterated that the Police Force's National Security Department announced on July 25 that 16 absconders, along with three individuals – Yuan Gong-yi, Fok Ka-chi and Choi Ming-da – who were specified as absconders in June and December 2024, had been placed on the wanted list.

These 19 absconders are suspected of having committed offences under the Hong Kong National Security Law by organising, establishing, or participating in, outside of the Hong Kong SAR, a subversive organisation named the “Hong Kong Parliament”.

In response to applications by Police, arrest warrants against these 19 persons at large have been issued.

On August 4, the Secretary for Security exercised the powers conferred by the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance to specify the above-mentioned group of 16 persons as absconders, and issued notices in the Government Gazette regarding measures to be applied against them.

The statement said the absconders are subject to arrest warrants not because they had “exercised freedom of expression”, but because they continue to blatantly engage in activities endangering national security outside of Hong Kong.

The “Hong Kong Parliament” is an organisation aiming to subvert the state's power. Its objectives include promoting “self-determination”, promulgating the so-called “Hong Kong Constitution”, and overthrowing or undermining the People's Republic of China’s basic system and central power, or the authorities of the Hong Kong SAR, by unlawful means.

The Hong Kong SAR Government emphasised that endangering national security is a very serious offence, and that such acts can bring very serious consequences. It added that it has the responsibility to pursue, in accordance with the law, persons suspected of having committed offences under the Hong Kong National Security Law or other offences endangering national security outside of Hong Kong.

The statement stressed that it is a demonstration of hypocrisy by any external forces to attack the Hong Kong SAR's efforts to dutifully and faithfully safeguard national security in accordance with the law.

It added that the Hong Kong SAR's law enforcement agencies take actions based on evidence and strictly in accordance with the law in respect of the acts of the persons or entities concerned, and have nothing to do with the political stances, background or occupations of those individuals or entities.

The Hong Kong SAR Government emphasised that it has the responsibility to pursue those who are suspected to have committed offences endangering national security and absconded overseas.

It added that absconders should not think they can evade criminal liability by absconding from Hong Kong and that ultimately they will be liable for their acts. Furthermore, it said that any suggestion that certain individuals or organisations should be immune from legal consequences for their illegal acts amounts to advocating for special privileges to break the law, which runs contrary to the spirit of the rule of law.

It also reiterated that the Constitution and the Basic Law steadfastly safeguard the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong residents. It said that attempts by foreign countries or external forces to undermine Hong Kong’s situation only expose their own weakness and faulty arguments and will be doomed to fail.

The Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to unwaveringly discharge its duty in safeguarding national security, it added.