Hong Kong police have apprehended five individuals on suspicion of providing financial assistance to activists abroad.
The arrests come shortly after the police offered bounties for information leading to the arrest of eight pro-democracy figures living in self-imposed exile.
Four individuals, aged 26 to 28, were arrested for conspiracy to collude with foreign forces, while a fifth individual, aged 24, was arrested at the Hong Kong International Airport.
The charges include conspiracy to sedition, a colonial-era offense. The arrests follow the implementation of a national security law in Hong Kong, which has been criticized by activists, human rights groups, and Western governments for curbing freedoms in the city.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee warned activists abroad that they would be pursued indefinitely, while calls have been made for the withdrawal of the bounties by officials in the United States, Britain, and Australia.
The police stated that the arrested individuals were suspected of receiving funds from operating companies, social media platforms, and mobile applications to support individuals who have fled overseas and engaged in activities endangering national security.
They were also accused of posting seditious content on social media platforms that provoked hatred towards Beijing and advocated for Hong Kong independence.