**Summary: Anonymous letters offering a bounty for information on pro-democracy activist Kevin Yam have been sent to Melbourne residents.**
### Who, What, When, Where, Why
A small number of residents in Melbourne received anonymous letters on Friday, claiming a police bounty of HK$1 million (approximately A$203,000) for information on Kevin Yam, an Australian citizen and pro-democracy activist. Yam is wanted for alleged national security crimes in Hong Kong and has been linked to two specific locations in Melbourne. The letters, mailed from Hong Kong, included a photograph of Yam and detailed various alleged offenses against national security.
### Allegations Against Kevin Yam
Kevin Yam, a lawyer who lived in Hong Kong for 20 years before returning to Australia in 2022, is one of eight overseas activists facing arrest warrants from Hong Kong police. In July 2023, he was accused of violating Hong Kong’s controversial national security law, which allows for extraterritorial prosecution of actions deemed criminal by the authorities.
– **Criticism of Government Actions**: Yam has publicly criticized the suppression of dissent and the decline of judicial independence in Hong Kong.
– **Accusations of Encouraging Sanctions**: He has been accused of urging foreign governments to impose sanctions on Hong Kong officials.
### Details of the Anonymous Letter
The letter provided a detailed description of Yam’s physical appearance and listed residential addresses in Abbotsford and Melbourne’s CBD. It urged anyone with information to contact the Hong Kong police’s national security department.
– **Reward Offered**: The letter stated, “A reward of $1 million HKD is being offered by Hong Kong police to any member of the public who can provide information on this wanted person.”
– **Official Declaration**: It noted that Hong Kong’s Secretary for Security, Tang Ping-keung, declared Yam an “absconder” for offenses endangering national security on December 24, 2024.
### Context of Similar Incidents
Similar letters were sent to neighbors of former Hong Kong district councillor Carmen Lau, who resides in the UK. Lau expressed concerns for her safety due to the letters.
### Conclusion
The targeting of Kevin Yam raises significant concerns about the implications for Australian citizens and the reach of Hong Kong’s national security law. How will the Australian government respond to these threats against its citizens?
### FAQs:
**Q: Who is Kevin Yam?**
A: Kevin Yam is an Australian citizen and pro-democracy activist wanted by Hong Kong authorities for alleged national security crimes.
**Alt Text**: Anonymous letter offering bounty for information on Kevin Yam sent to Melbourne residents.
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