2021: End of year update
Wednesday 22nd December - Message from the President
“It has been a privilege to be a part of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong, and help it develop throughout its first year. Our team ensures that the overwhelming majority of Hong Kong people who support democracy are heard, and fights for their rights, even as they are largely silenced in Hong Kong itself. I have seen first-hand the erosion of liberties promised in the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, an international treaty designed to safeguard freedom for Hong Kong that China now has disavowed.
“This week’s Legislative Council election further highlighted the erosion of democracy in Hong Kong. Due to the lack of democratic candidates, we saw the lowest-ever turnout and the instalment of a 90% pro-Beijing Legco. Events like these are sparking an awakening in the international community.
“Freedom-loving nations throughout the world are coming together to build an international coalition in support of wide-ranging sanctions in response to China’s hostile and aggressive behaviour. We at the CFHK stand in solidarity with the people of Hong Kong, and will continue working with governments, media, and civil society to stand against the continuing assault on freedoms and rule of law.”
Mark L. Clifford
Visits to the U.K.
As 2021 draws to a close, so does the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong’s first year of advocacy for freedom in Hong Kong. We’ve been advocating across many different fronts, from parliamentary visits to social media campaigns.
In October this year, Chairman James Cunningham and President Mark Clifford visited the U.K. to meet parliamentarians on the issue of Chinese interference in Hong Kong. CFHK met with a host of individuals, including Foreign Affairs Committee chair Tom Tugendhat MP and members Alicia Kearns MP and Neil Coyle MP. The Foreign Affairs Committee have this year called for the UK Government to ensure that China faces the consequences for its crimes against humanity; it was insightful to meet with some of the committee's key members. The visit also included meetings with Hong Kong All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) members Lord Alton of Liverpool and Tom Randall MP, as well as Christine Jardine MP and Stephen Kinnock MP, the former Shadow Minister for Asia.
We were proud to see our Chairman James Cunningham featured on BBC World News with broadcaster Yalda Hakim, discussing the political situation in Afghanistan, China, and Hong Kong, during which he was able to convey to a wide audience the troubles which all three countries currently face. And his contribution to a discussion on China’s foreign policy, hosted by the Henry Jackson Society. Also taking part in the discussion were Baroness Bennett, Co-Chair of the Hong Kong APPG, Christopher Hughes, Professor of International Relations, and Sam Ashworth-Hayes, Director of Studies at the Henry Jackson Society.
Following October’s successful visits, Mark Clifford returned to the U.K. in November. He met with influential and high-profile MPs including Foreign Affairs Spokesman for the SNP, Alyn Smith MP, and John Nicolson MP, Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport Spokesman for the SNP. They have been vocal in their criticism of China and its deeply concerning actions in Hong Kong to suppress political opponents, freedom of speech, and other civil liberties.
CFHK are grateful to all parliamentarians with whom we met, and to have discussed issues of critical importance, from the ongoing attacks to civil liberties and freedom of press in Hong Kong, political prisoners, the destruction of the Sino-British Joint Declaration to the potential for Magnitsky sanctions on China and wider divestment. CFHK anticipate further collaboration next year, as we continue to strive towards the restoration of democracy in Hong Kong.
As well as our visits with parliamentarians, CFHK also took part in the Hudson Institute virtual event ‘Can Hong Kong Remain a Global Financial Centre?’. The discussion focused on Hong Kong’s future as a financial centre in the face of a draconian crackdown on political and economic freedom by the Chinese Communist Party.
Prisoners of Conscience
In our continued fight against China’s oppressive use of the National Security Law, the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong (CFHK) organised 27 UK parliamentarians and stakeholders to sign an open letter to Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping. In the letter, CFHK demanded the immediate release of the prisoners of conscience held under the National Security Law in Hong Kong, including Jimmy Lai, and the Apple Daily Seven. CFHK took further action with an advertisement in the New York Times in December, to free these individuals.
Jimmy Lai, the founder of the now-closed Apple Daily newspaper, is a long-time pro-democracy activist and is among those who have suffered from China’s criminalisation of free speech, free press, and free assembly. In 2020, he was arrested by Hong Kong police for his alleged participation in two separate pro-democracy protests in August 2019. In April 2021, Lai was sentenced to 12 months for the 18th of August demonstration and another 8 for the one on the 31st of August 2019. In December 2021, the Hong Kong courts handed him a further sentence of 13 months for inciting and participating in a peaceful candlelight vigil in 2020 commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.
The National Security Law is in direct opposition to the People’s Republic of China’s promises for free speech, freedom of the press, and other fundamental civil liberties.
Olympics
The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong firmly believe that Hong Kong’s fate is linked to the preservation of freedom, democracy, and international law in the region and around the world. We believe that implementing a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games sends a message of hope to those democracy campaigners currently imprisoned at the behest of Beijing. Staging a diplomatic boycott also demonstrates to China that nations will not condone their continuous human rights abuses. As such, the decision by Lithuania, the US, Australia, and the U.K. to implement a diplomatic boycott is a commendable one and sets an example to the rest of the world. It creates a united stance against China, one for which CFHK are thankful.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) must not be allowed to use the prestigious international sporting event that is the Winter Olympics for propaganda purposes. By hosting the Games, the CCP is attempting to manipulate and control the narrative and clear their name of any wrongdoings. The international community must not let China continue to deny and cover up the abuses it carries out on its people.
2022
2022 is set to be another consequential year for Hong Kong. In March, the Chief Executive election will take place with China likely to further tighten their hold on Hong Kong. The democratic future of Hong Kong benefits from the international community’s focus on China’s continuing abuses. CFHK will continue to fight for the reinstalment of democracy that China promised Hong Kong and for the freedom of its citizens.
“It has been a privilege to be a part of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong, and help it develop throughout its first year. Our team ensures that the overwhelming majority of Hong Kong people who support democracy are heard, and fights for their rights, even as they are largely silenced in Hong Kong itself. I have seen first-hand the erosion of liberties promised in the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, an international treaty designed to safeguard freedom for Hong Kong that China now has disavowed.
“This week’s Legislative Council election further highlighted the erosion of democracy in Hong Kong. Due to the lack of democratic candidates, we saw the lowest-ever turnout and the instalment of a 90% pro-Beijing Legco. Events like these are sparking an awakening in the international community.
“Freedom-loving nations throughout the world are coming together to build an international coalition in support of wide-ranging sanctions in response to China’s hostile and aggressive behaviour. We at the CFHK stand in solidarity with the people of Hong Kong, and will continue working with governments, media, and civil society to stand against the continuing assault on freedoms and rule of law.”
Mark L. Clifford
Visits to the U.K.
As 2021 draws to a close, so does the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong’s first year of advocacy for freedom in Hong Kong. We’ve been advocating across many different fronts, from parliamentary visits to social media campaigns.
In October this year, Chairman James Cunningham and President Mark Clifford visited the U.K. to meet parliamentarians on the issue of Chinese interference in Hong Kong. CFHK met with a host of individuals, including Foreign Affairs Committee chair Tom Tugendhat MP and members Alicia Kearns MP and Neil Coyle MP. The Foreign Affairs Committee have this year called for the UK Government to ensure that China faces the consequences for its crimes against humanity; it was insightful to meet with some of the committee's key members. The visit also included meetings with Hong Kong All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) members Lord Alton of Liverpool and Tom Randall MP, as well as Christine Jardine MP and Stephen Kinnock MP, the former Shadow Minister for Asia.
We were proud to see our Chairman James Cunningham featured on BBC World News with broadcaster Yalda Hakim, discussing the political situation in Afghanistan, China, and Hong Kong, during which he was able to convey to a wide audience the troubles which all three countries currently face. And his contribution to a discussion on China’s foreign policy, hosted by the Henry Jackson Society. Also taking part in the discussion were Baroness Bennett, Co-Chair of the Hong Kong APPG, Christopher Hughes, Professor of International Relations, and Sam Ashworth-Hayes, Director of Studies at the Henry Jackson Society.
Following October’s successful visits, Mark Clifford returned to the U.K. in November. He met with influential and high-profile MPs including Foreign Affairs Spokesman for the SNP, Alyn Smith MP, and John Nicolson MP, Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport Spokesman for the SNP. They have been vocal in their criticism of China and its deeply concerning actions in Hong Kong to suppress political opponents, freedom of speech, and other civil liberties.
CFHK are grateful to all parliamentarians with whom we met, and to have discussed issues of critical importance, from the ongoing attacks to civil liberties and freedom of press in Hong Kong, political prisoners, the destruction of the Sino-British Joint Declaration to the potential for Magnitsky sanctions on China and wider divestment. CFHK anticipate further collaboration next year, as we continue to strive towards the restoration of democracy in Hong Kong.
As well as our visits with parliamentarians, CFHK also took part in the Hudson Institute virtual event ‘Can Hong Kong Remain a Global Financial Centre?’. The discussion focused on Hong Kong’s future as a financial centre in the face of a draconian crackdown on political and economic freedom by the Chinese Communist Party.
Prisoners of Conscience
In our continued fight against China’s oppressive use of the National Security Law, the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong (CFHK) organised 27 UK parliamentarians and stakeholders to sign an open letter to Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping. In the letter, CFHK demanded the immediate release of the prisoners of conscience held under the National Security Law in Hong Kong, including Jimmy Lai, and the Apple Daily Seven. CFHK took further action with an advertisement in the New York Times in December, to free these individuals.
Jimmy Lai, the founder of the now-closed Apple Daily newspaper, is a long-time pro-democracy activist and is among those who have suffered from China’s criminalisation of free speech, free press, and free assembly. In 2020, he was arrested by Hong Kong police for his alleged participation in two separate pro-democracy protests in August 2019. In April 2021, Lai was sentenced to 12 months for the 18th of August demonstration and another 8 for the one on the 31st of August 2019. In December 2021, the Hong Kong courts handed him a further sentence of 13 months for inciting and participating in a peaceful candlelight vigil in 2020 commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.
The National Security Law is in direct opposition to the People’s Republic of China’s promises for free speech, freedom of the press, and other fundamental civil liberties.
Olympics
The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong firmly believe that Hong Kong’s fate is linked to the preservation of freedom, democracy, and international law in the region and around the world. We believe that implementing a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games sends a message of hope to those democracy campaigners currently imprisoned at the behest of Beijing. Staging a diplomatic boycott also demonstrates to China that nations will not condone their continuous human rights abuses. As such, the decision by Lithuania, the US, Australia, and the U.K. to implement a diplomatic boycott is a commendable one and sets an example to the rest of the world. It creates a united stance against China, one for which CFHK are thankful.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) must not be allowed to use the prestigious international sporting event that is the Winter Olympics for propaganda purposes. By hosting the Games, the CCP is attempting to manipulate and control the narrative and clear their name of any wrongdoings. The international community must not let China continue to deny and cover up the abuses it carries out on its people.
2022
2022 is set to be another consequential year for Hong Kong. In March, the Chief Executive election will take place with China likely to further tighten their hold on Hong Kong. The democratic future of Hong Kong benefits from the international community’s focus on China’s continuing abuses. CFHK will continue to fight for the reinstalment of democracy that China promised Hong Kong and for the freedom of its citizens.