HK ‘back to normal’ still

Chief Executive John Lee says the eight ‘wanted’ pan-democrats overseas should ‘surrender or live in fear forever’ and police will ‘go to the ends of the earth’ to catch them. He also stresses that suspects’ ‘family and friends’ are welcome to claim their share of the million bucks by helping NatSec cops make arrests.

Meanwhile, the Security Secretary reiterates the authorities’ determination to counter ‘soft resistance’…

In an interview with state-backed newspaper Ta Kung Pao published on Monday, the security chief said Hong Kong had seen “soft resistance” in recent years, as well as online discussions and publications that could easily radicalise people.

And, following questioning and rejection of a Taiwanese academic by immigration and security officials at the airport, RFA asks whether Hong Kong is safe to travel to, especially for journalists.

The Guardian on the overseas eight…

…the timing of the warrants and attention-grabbing bounties is curious. The activists are all based in western countries that Hong Kong is also trying to woo as it tries to demonstrate to the world that it is open for business.

Official fear of perceived national security threats does not just sit oddly with promotion of Hong Kong’s image as an international financial hub – it seems to be bad for at least one pro-Beijing figure’s marriage…

Lawmaker Eunice Yung Hoi-yan says getting a divorce from her husband will not solve problems with her estranged father-in-law, wanted suspect Elmer Yuen.

…Yung said her husband, who is an international relations analyst and not in Hong Kong at the moment, received a “lot of calls” yesterday and felt pressured after warrants for the arrest of his activist-father and seven others were issued.

“I care about my husband as he’s under pressure,” Yung said. “He will have to think about whether he will ever have a chance to meet his father in the future, how to meet him and where they can meet.”

…She also wants to protect her husband and has cautioned him about meeting or sending money to his father.

The US, UK and Australia have all criticized the announcement on the eight, and Beijing has predictably hit back. A bigger-picture question: is dramatic NatSec alarm in little Hong Kong worth the extra damage to China’s relations with the West?