The rewards apply to 19 foreign-based activists involved in what Hong Kong called a "subversive organization". It is about Hong Kong Parliament - a pro-democratic organization founded in Canada.
"We will not tolerate attempts by the Hong Kong regime to use their national security laws to silence or intimidate Americans or others who are in the US", says Rubio in a statement.
The political opposition in Hong Kong has been crushed since Beijing introduced a comprehensive national security law in 2020, after the large pro-democratic protests the year before. Many opposition figures have fled abroad, while others have been arrested and sentenced to multi-year prison terms.
"With this new wave of arrest warrants and rewards, the Hong Kong regime continues to erode the autonomy that Beijing promised the population in 1977", continues Rubio.
