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The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, says the Australian government is “deeply disappointed” by moves from Hong Kong authorities to issue arrest warrants for democracy advocates in exile, including two in Australia.
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Hong Kong police yesterday said they had issued arrest warrants for eight overseas activists, accusing them of contravening the city’s national security law and offering a reward of HK$1m ($A191,726) per person, as my colleague Amy Hawkins reported here.
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This list includes Australian citizen Kevin Yam, a former Hong Kong lawyer and democracy activist who is based in Melbourne. Yam has been critical of foreign judges taking up judicial appointments in Hong Kong, arguing they could be inadvertently “lending credibility to an authoritarian regime”.
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The list also includes Ted Hui, a pro-democracy figure who fled to Australia via Europe in 2021.
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In a statement issued late last night, Wong expressed her deep disappointment at the reports. She said Australia had “consistently expressed concerns about the broad application of the national security law to arrest or pressure pro-democracy figures and civil society”. Wong said:
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The government will continue to speak out on issues that matter to Australians, including human rights. Freedom of expression and assembly are essential to our democracy, and we will support those in Australia who exercise those rights. Australia remains deeply concerned by the continuing erosion of Hong Kong’s rights, freedoms and autonomy.
\n
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The comments come at a time when the Australian government is seeking to “stabilise” the relationship with China.
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Yam told Guardian Australia last night:
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I’m heartened to see that the Australian government has stood up for Australians’ right to free expression in Australia.
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Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of all the day’s news. I’m Martin Farrer and I’ll get things rolling with some breaking overnight stories before my colleague Rafqa Touma fires up and takes up the main business.
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An Australian citizen and an Australian resident are among eight exiled Hong Kong democracy activists named in arrest warrants issued by the city state’s police accusing them of contravening the national security law and offering a reward of HK$1m ($200,000) per person. Foreign minister Penny Wong said the government was “deeply disappointed” by the warrants and said Australia would continue to speak out against human rights abuses in the China-controlled territory. More on this coming up.
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Pressure on borrowers could be ratcheted up again today when the Reserve Bank meets to decide its next move on interest rates. Economists are split as to whether members will go for a 13th rate hike in little more than year as they bid to tame inflation – or place the hikes on hold in recognition of an easing of price pressures. It comes as first home buyers face paying out 40% of their average disposable income on mortgage repayments – a “huge amount” according to one expert – if the Reserve Bank lifts rates twice more this year. More coming up on the story as well.
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Pauline Hanson has threatened to send her own 2,000-word anti-voice essay to Australian voters unless a parliamentary committee includes her contributions in the official referendum pamphlet for the no side. She is not alone in her frustration about probably being overlooked because minor parties in general appear likely to be edged out by the no and yes committees dominated by the Coalition and Labor respectively.
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Key events
Wong ‘deeply disappointed’ by Hong Kong arrest warrants for activists
Daniel Hurst
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, says the Australian government is “deeply disappointed” by moves from Hong Kong authorities to issue arrest warrants for democracy advocates in exile, including two in Australia.
Hong Kong police yesterday said they had issued arrest warrants for eight overseas activists, accusing them of contravening the city’s national security law and offering a reward of HK$1m ($A191,726) per person, as my colleague Amy Hawkins reported here.
This list includes Australian citizen Kevin Yam, a former Hong Kong lawyer and democracy activist who is based in Melbourne. Yam has been critical of foreign judges taking up judicial appointments in Hong Kong, arguing they could be inadvertently “lending credibility to an authoritarian regime”.
The list also includes Ted Hui, a pro-democracy figure who fled to Australia via Europe in 2021.
In a statement issued late last night, Wong expressed her deep disappointment at the reports. She said Australia had “consistently expressed concerns about the broad application of the national security law to arrest or pressure pro-democracy figures and civil society”. Wong said:
The government will continue to speak out on issues that matter to Australians, including human rights. Freedom of expression and assembly are essential to our democracy, and we will support those in Australia who exercise those rights. Australia remains deeply concerned by the continuing erosion of Hong Kong’s rights, freedoms and autonomy.
The comments come at a time when the Australian government is seeking to “stabilise” the relationship with China.
Yam told Guardian Australia last night:
I’m heartened to see that the Australian government has stood up for Australians’ right to free expression in Australia.
Welcome
Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of all the day’s news. I’m Martin Farrer and I’ll get things rolling with some breaking overnight stories before my colleague Rafqa Touma fires up and takes up the main business.
An Australian citizen and an Australian resident are among eight exiled Hong Kong democracy activists named in arrest warrants issued by the city state’s police accusing them of contravening the national security law and offering a reward of HK$1m ($200,000) per person. Foreign minister Penny Wong said the government was “deeply disappointed” by the warrants and said Australia would continue to speak out against human rights abuses in the China-controlled territory. More on this coming up.
Pressure on borrowers could be ratcheted up again today when the Reserve Bank meets to decide its next move on interest rates. Economists are split as to whether members will go for a 13th rate hike in little more than year as they bid to tame inflation – or place the hikes on hold in recognition of an easing of price pressures. It comes as first home buyers face paying out 40% of their average disposable income on mortgage repayments – a “huge amount” according to one expert – if the Reserve Bank lifts rates twice more this year. More coming up on the story as well.
Pauline Hanson has threatened to send her own 2,000-word anti-voice essay to Australian voters unless a parliamentary committee includes her contributions in the official referendum pamphlet for the no side. She is not alone in her frustration about probably being overlooked because minor parties in general appear likely to be edged out by the no and yes committees dominated by the Coalition and Labor respectively.
