Australian leaders have responded after mysterious flyers were delivered to local postboxes offering supposed financial rewards for information on a Hong Kong (HK) pro-democracy activist Kevin Yam in Melbourne.
Another set of material purported to be marketing leaflets for ex-HK legislator Ted Hui, who currently works for a local law firm, claims he is a “pro-Israel man” siding with “Israel to wage war against” Islamic terrorism.
Those flyers were sent to a mosque.
The material appears to have been sent from Macau, a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) controlled territory.
The now Adelaide-based Hui spoke to The Epoch Times saying the incident shows the CCP is watching Australia closely.
“It was quite intimidating knowing that there have been discussions and extreme views on anti-Semitism going on, and someone in China is seeing that as something that can cause me trouble,” he said.
Hui, and fellow HK democracy activist Kevin Yam, based in Melbourne, are both subject to HK$1 million bounties offered by HK Police in 2023, further bounties were laid on other individuals a year later.
Hui said the CCP is hiring agents or underworld figures to assist in their overseas operations.
“I can see a change of tactic,” he said, noting current issues around social cohesion were being misused by “malicious powers.”
He has called for a clear, official response from the CCP Embassy in Australia, to detail whether it is responsible, and if not, what the official stance is from Beijing.
Hui said he is expecting a letter offering a bounty, similar to that targeting Yam, would also be in circulation.
Wanted Letter for Melbourne Lawyer
The other flyer addressed to some homes in Melbourne, was a “public appeal” for information related to Yam, a lawyer who previously worked in HK and spoke about democracy.The letter claims Yam, an Australian citizen, is “wanted on suspicion of a range of national security related offences” against the CCP.
The anonymous sender, who used a United Kingdom phone number on the letter, is offering $203,000 (US$129,000) bounty for information on Yam if he can be brought back to Hong Kong.
Yam responded on social media platform X where he thanked Australian Senators Penny Wong and James Paterson for speaking out against the letters.
Politicians Condemn Threats
Foreign Minister Penny Wong condemned the flyers.“We are a sovereign nation. We do not accept any one of our citizens or on our shores, people being bullied or harassed or threatened by a foreign power,” she said.
“We expect our democracy and our citizens to be able to operate free from such interference, that kind of pressure or threats.”
Shadow Home Affairs Minister James Paterson said the sending of the flyers was illegal.
“It is extremely reckless to seek to weaponise anti-Semitism and undermine Australia’s social cohesion to facilitate foreign interference,” he said.
“These flyers targeting Kevin Yam and Ted Hui must be investigated, and if the perpetrators are located in Australia, punished to the full extent of the law.
“If a foreign government is ultimately responsible, the strongest representations must be made to send the clear message this meddling in our country will not be tolerated.”
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to provide a national update on the situation.
“I think it is deeply concerning where a foreign power is trying to influence somebody here in Australia,” he said.
“It is against Australian law.
“Every effort should be made by the Albanese government to deal with the issue, and to deal with it promptly.”
