A Hong Kong pro-democracy activist and a former lawmaker have been granted asylum in Great Britain and Australia.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has criticized Hong Kong authorities over their pursuit of two pro-democracy activists who live in Australia.

Hong Kong police have offered rewards for information leading to the arrests of eight pro-democracy activists who went into exile abroad and are accused of violating the territory's harsh National Security Law.

(AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)HONG KONG – Hong Kong police arrested three former opposition lawmakers on Wednesday for disrupting legislative meetings several months ago, adding to concerns about a crackdown on the city’s pro-democracy camp. A Hong Kong police statement said they arrested three former lawmakers on suspicion of contempt in the legislature and intent to cause harm to others. Pro-democracy lawmakers and activists have accused the Hong Kong government and the central Chinese government in Beijing of tightening control over the semi-autonomous territory in response to demands for more democracy. The pro-democracy lawmakers arrested were accused of rushing the chairperson's desk, bumping into security guards and throwing sheets of paper from the public gallery. Last week, 15 pro-democracy lawmakers resigned en masse after Beijing passed a resolution that led to the disqualification of four of their colleagues.

Pro-democracy legislator Ted Hui, center, is arrested by police officers in Hong Kong, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. Hong Kong police arrested 16 people Wednesday on charges related to anti-government protests last year, including two opposition lawmakers. Pro-democracy legislators Ted Hui and Lam Cheuk-ting were arrested early Wednesday, according to posts on their Facebook pages. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)HONG KONG – Hong Kong police arrested 16 people, including two opposition lawmakers, on Wednesday on charges related to anti-government protests last year. Since the start of the protests in June 2019, Hong Kong police have made more than 9,000 arrests.