China's foreign affairs office in the city and the Hong Kong government have refuted Western criticisms on police issuing warrants and bounties for eight national security suspects.

The United States condemned the move through a State Department spokesman, calling it "a dangerous precedent that threatens the human rights and fundamental freedoms of people all over the world."

British foreign secretary James Cleverly said London "will not tolerate any attempts by China to intimidate and silence individuals in the United Kingdom and overseas."

Cleverly tweeted that the decision "is a further example of the authoritarian reach of China's extraterritorial law."

Australia will steadfastly support freedom of expression and the right of people to express political views peacefully, said foreign minister Penny Wong Ying-yen.

Three of the eight people wanted are believed to be in the United States, three in the United Kingdom and two in Australia.

The Commissioner's Office of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong accused the US and UK of "double standards" in sheltering criminals.

An office spokesman said the eight people had "long been engaged in anti-China and disruptive activities in Hong Kong" and "spread political rumors about China and Hong Kong" as well as "incited external forces to intervene in and even sanction Hong Kong, openly challenging the authority of the national security law and the bottom line of the one country, two systems principle."

He said national security police acted in line with international law and custom, warning external forces to stop harboring criminals.

It is proper and necessary to implement the national security law to ensure Hong Kong's long-term stability, he said.

The Security Bureau slammed "certain countries" for making unsubstantiated accusations against the national security police.

A bureau spokesman said it is common for law enforcement agencies to release information of fugitive offenders who are wanted for serious offenses that they have allegedly committed.

"Some countries ignored the extraterritorial effect of their national security laws and wantonly made unreasonable criticisms and smeared the extraterritorial effect of the security law and the police operations repeatedly. These are clearly typical manipulations tainted with double standards."

stacy.shi@singtaonewscorp.com

Penny Wong

China, Hong Kong fire back at West double standards