Hong Kong fugitives: Patreon platform will ‘not accept non-US requests’ for information

But legal experts say platform could still be prosecuted, and those who support wanted activists’ pages might be deemed to be funding them

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Police notices of wanted activists Finn Lau Cho-dik and Nathan Law Kwun-chung outside Tsim Sha Tsui Police Station. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 8:30am, 14 Jun 2024Updated: 8:57am, 14 Jun 2024

A US-based patronage website has said it will not respond to requests from overseas after Hong Kong authorities warned they could prosecute people who financed six fugitives wanted for national security charges through any fundraising platforms.

But legal experts said Patreon – a platform designed to help content creators monetise their work, and which three of the wanted activists use – could still be prosecuted under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance.

Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung on Wednesday invoked powers granted under the city’s new domestic national security law to cancel the passports of wanted activist Nathan Law Kwun-chung and five other fugitives living in the UK.

The government also imposed three other measures to bar anyone from funding, leasing properties to and having “joint ventures or partnerships” with the fugitives.

Law has been active on San Francisco-based Patreon, charging subscribers HK$40 to HK$795 a month for content ranging from excerpts of his speeches to discussions about “people-to-people diplomacy”.

Two other wanted opposition figures, Johnny Fok Ka-chi and Tony Choi Ming-da, also have a Patreon page for their current affairs commentary channel called “Tuesdayroad”.