The governments of the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the European Union—members of the G7 Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM)—along with associate members Australia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Sweden have issued a joint statement regarding recent actions by Hong Kong authorities.
According to the statement released on August 8, 2025, these countries condemned the July 25 decision by Hong Kong Police Authorities to issue arrest warrants and bounties for individuals outside Hong Kong’s borders. The statement noted that these actions targeted people in G7 RRM countries for exercising their freedom of expression.
The joint statement read: "The G7 RRM notes recent statements made by the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, the European Union, Australia, and New Zealand condemning the July 25, 2025 decision by the Hong Kong Police Authorities. The authorities issued arrest warrants and bounties on individuals outside Hong Kong’s borders, including in G7 RRM countries, for exercising their freedom of expression. This form of transnational repression undermines national security, state sovereignty, human rights, and the safety of communities."
The statement continued: "Building on the recent G7 Leaders’ Statement on Transnational Repression, G7 RRM members and associate members are committed to strengthening our efforts to safeguard our sovereignty, to keep our communities safe, and to defend individuals from the overreach of governments trying to silence, intimidate, harass, harm or coerce them within our borders."
The governments involved encouraged people to report any suspicious activities or incidents involving intimidation or threats to their respective law enforcement agencies. "We encourage individuals to report suspicious activities and any incidents of intimidation, harassment, coercion, or threats to their law enforcement authorities in accordance with domestic laws and regulations."
The statement also provided background on the purpose of the G7 RRM since its creation: "Since its inception, the G7 RRM has aimed to counter foreign interference. It includes G7 members, and Australia, New Zealand, NATO, the Netherlands, and Sweden as associate members. The G7 RRM and likeminded global partners stand together in countering these ongoing malign activities."