Chinese academic slams 'ridiculous' HK bounties

An academic in Australia who was among 19 people that Hong Kong issued bounties for has criticized the "ridiculous" arrest warrants and warned that the region was trying to exert its power beyond its borders.

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Authorities from the Chinese city announced cash rewards on Friday for information leading to the arrest of 19 overseas activists involved in Hong Kong Parliament -- a pro-democracy group established in Canada.

The bounties range from about US$25,000 (HK$200,000) to US$125,000, depending on the individual.

Among those named was Feng Chongyi, a China studies professor at the University of Technology Sydney.

"It's certainly ridiculous," Feng told the Sydney Morning Herald in an interview published Saturday.

"They've got the power, they've got the influence overseas, they want to control everything even overseas."

Feng told the publication he joined the group as an academic.