HONG KONG - Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor described the tendency of certain accused activists to jump bail as “cowardly” after several fled the city in recent days to evade legal consequences of their actions following the enactment of the National Security Law on June 30.

Lam said the fugitives’ tendency to jump bail was “despicable” and “irresponsible” as everyone should accept responsibility for their own actions.

In an interview with China Daily on Wednesday, Lam said jumping bail only “reflects a very cowardly attitude that they don’t want to face this legal liability.”

Within a month of the National Security Law’s enactment on June 30, six opposition activists, including former legislator Nathan Law Kwun-chung, had fled overseas, and Hong Kong police have since listed them as wanted

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Lam’s remarks were in response to accused opposition activists’ recent tendency to bolt to countries with which Hong Kong doesn’t have extradition agreements. The latest such case involves former lawmaker Ted Hui Chi-fung, who fled to the United Kingdom with his family while facing nine charges in Hong Kong, including obstructing police officers from executing their duties, taking part in an unauthorized assembly, and disrupting Legislative Council meetings in May and June 2020 by spilling foul-smelling liquid on the LegCo floor.

Within a month of the National Security Law’s enactment on June 30, six opposition activists, including former legislator Nathan Law Kwun-chung, had fled overseas, and Hong Kong police have since listed them as wanted.

Expressing her confidence in the city’s law enforcement, prosecution and judicial systems, Lam said Hong Kong has a fair and transparent legal system.

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Under the Basic Law, prosecution of individuals is designed independently by the Department of Justice and is tried independently by the courts of Hong Kong, which enjoy the final adjudication power, she said.

“I hope that these fugitives will be brought to justice,” Lam said.