SYDNEY: Australia voiced unease on Tuesday (Mar 18) over nameless letters reportedly providing hefty rewards for data on a Hong Kong activist now dwelling in Melbourne.
Australian citizen Kevin Yam, a lawyer and longtime Hong Kong pro-democracy activist, was focused in letters that carried his picture and alleged nationwide safety offences.
The letters, first reported in The Guardian newspaper, supplied a reward of HK$1 million (US$128,000) to anybody who might present details about him and the allegations or “take him to Hong Kong or Australia Metropolitan Police”.
They had been despatched to properties subsequent to 2 Melbourne places cited within the notices as being linked to Yam, the paper stated.
“The Australian authorities is not going to tolerate surveillance, harassment or intimidation in opposition to people or relations right here in Australia — this undermines our nationwide sovereignty and the safety and security of Australians,” stated a spokesperson for Overseas Minister Penny Wong.
“We’re elevating our issues straight with Chinese language and Hong Kong authorities.”
In a message on social media, Yam stated he would proceed to dwell his “on a regular basis life”.
“I can’t voluntarily return to Hong Kong earlier than it’s free,” he stated.
“I can’t kill myself.”
