China blasts UK after Foreign Sec. meets HK fugitives

China said on Wednesday it is despicable for the UK to shelter criminals after British Foreign Secretary David Lammy met with four Hong Kong fugitives based in the country.

The Chinese Embassy in the UK expressed strong opposition and condemnation of the UK officials' blatant interference in the rule of law in Hong Kong and in China's internal affairs, after Lammy and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Catherine West met with the group.

The four UK-based fugitives, including Chung Kim-wah, Tony Chung Hon-lam, Carmen Lau Ka-man, and Chloe Cheung Hei-ching, were previously wanted by Hong Kong’s national security police, each slapped with a HK$1 million bounty.

Read more: National security police place HK$1 million bounties on six more activists

The embassy spokesman said that the four individuals have long engaged in anti-China activities seeking to destabilize Hong Kong, and the law enforcement actions taken by the Hong Kong police are necessary to uphold the rule of law in Hong Kong and defend national security.

“We urge the UK to respect China's sovereignty and Hong Kong's rule of law, stop emboldening those anti-China individuals seeking to destabilize Hong Kong and stop harboring criminals,” said the spokesman.

Sharing a photo of the meeting on X, West said the safety of the UK's Hong Kong community is a priority.

“Last week David Lammy and I made this clear when we met those recently targeted by the Hong Kong police with arrest warrants. Attempts by foreign governments to coerce, intimidate, or harm critics overseas are unacceptable.” West wrote.

Her social media post was later reposted by Lammy.