Chinese hunters put bounty on exiled activists’ addresses

PRO-BEIJING activists are offering £10,000 on social media for the addresses of dissidents living in the UK.

The Metropolitan Police is to launch an investigation after the messages on behalf of an “anonymous boss” were posted on the Chinese messaging app Wechat this week.

Pro-democracy Hongkongers living in Britain have now gone into hiding, fearing the reward is part of a campaign by supporters of the Communist government to hunt them down.

The threats were made against Simon Cheng, a previous Hong Kong-british consulate employee who claims he was tortured by the regime in 2019, as well as Nathan Law, a leader of the territory’s “Umbrella” protests and now one of the most prominent international advocates for Hong Kong democracy.

In messages seen by The Daily Telegraph, an unidentified person wrote: “Anonymous boss offers £10,000 as bounty for anyone who can provide each Simon Cheng or Nathan Law’s residential and work address.”

The message, posted to more than 270 group members, was followed by a photograph of Mr Cheng and Mr Law at the Palace of Westminster with MPS including Stephen Kinnock. Mr Cheng, who has not ventured outside since seeing the messages, fears they are intended to incite physical attacks.

It is understood that police officers will visit the 31-year-old’s home this weekend to investigate the messages and to discuss his security.

Further Wechat messages talk about building a team to attack Hong Kong independence campaigners in the UK more generally.

Mr Cheng, whose arrest is actively sought by Hong Kong police since the passing of the draconian security law last year, has previously received anonymous emails warning that Chinese agents would find him.

“This time it is much more serious,” he said. “They are encouraging people to hunt me down. I am concerned I will be physically attacked and I am being extremely careful.”

Benedict Rogers, chief executive of the campaign group Hong Kong Watch, said: “These threats are deeply concerning and I urge the police and relevant authorities to take them seriously.

“Having been the recipient of threatening letters and emails myself, I have some experience of what it is like, though the dangers facing Hong Kong activists are far, far higher than anything I have faced and should be taken seriously and acted upon urgently.”