The government said on Monday it would make every effort in accordance to the law to pursue a woman accused of national security offences for planning to jump bail.

Agnes Chow, who is accused of national security offences, had announced her plan to jump bail on social media. She said she is in Canada and will not report to the police this month.

In a statement published on Monday night, the government stressed that endangering national security is an extremely serious crime, and stated that it would fight against such cases with "all its strength and pursue them to the end".

It added no one should think that they can escape criminal responsibility by fleeing Hong Kong and that "fugitives will be hunted for life unless they surrender".

The statement also said Chow should return to the SAR and cooperate with police, otherwise she will regret her actions.

Earlier on Monday, police said the woman concerned was arrested in August 2020 on suspicion of colluding with external elements. She was then jailed for other offences from late 2020 to mid-2021.

After completing her sentence, she was released on bail by national security police.

"Police also restricted her from leaving Hong Kong according to Schedule 2 of Article 43 of the National Security Law. While on bail, the woman reported back to police punctually and cooperatively," police had said.

The woman later disclosed to police that she wished to study abroad and provided admission documents as proof. National security police returned her travel documents, and extended her bail until December.

Chow said on social media she had left Hong Kong to continue her studies in Canada in September.

She said having taken into consideration factors such as the situation in Hong Kong, her personal safety and her physical and mental health, she decided not to return to Hong Kong to report to the police at the end of December.

She added that she probably will not come back to Hong Kong for the rest of her life.
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Last updated: 2023-12-04 HKT 21:30