NEWSLETTER: UK Government has announced the withdrawal of serving UK judges from the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal.
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Every week, this newsletter will bring you the latest updates and developments concerning freedom in Hong Kong.
To subscribe to our newsletter, click here.
Justice
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, Minister of Justice Dominic Raab and Supreme Court president Lord Reed have decided to withdraw UK judges from the #HongKong Court of Appeals. The UK Foreign Office has said it is “no longer tenable” for UK judges to sit on Hong Kong’s top court due to the impact on human rights of the National Security Law imposed by Beijing in 2020, reported the Independent. The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong’s President Mark Clifford said: “This decision by the UK Government is overdue. UK judges propping up a legal system in Hong Kong that is designed to target and destroy pro-democracy networks and jail activists and politicians is fundamentally at odds with the principles of western democracy. The position of those judges before today’s announcement had become untenable since the imposition of the National Security Law.”
Lord Reed and Lord Hodge have announced their resignations from the #HongKong Court of Final Appeal. As noted in the Hong Kong Free Press, Lord Reed, President of the UK Supreme Court stated, “The courts in Hong Kong continue to be internationally respected for their commitment to the rule of law. Nevertheless, I have concluded, in agreement with the government, that the judges of the Supreme Court cannot continue to sit in Hong Kong without appearing to endorse an administration which has departed from values of political freedom, and freedom of expression.”
Not surprisingly, China has criticised the removal of UK judges and has called it a political move, reported the South China Morning Post.
Prisoners of Conscience
A Hong Kong court has ruled against Tam Yu-hin’s appeal following his conviction for taking part in “unlawful assembly” during the 2019 pro-democracy protests, noted the Hong Kong Free Press. The appellant was among three people who were said to have participated in an unlawful assembly at the intersection of San Wan Road and So Kwun Po in Sheung Shui on November 12, 2019. On that day, Hong Kong saw citywide pro-democracy protesters stage a general strike by blocking roads in various districts.
Lawyers have said UK ministers should press Commonwealth countries to ditch extradition agreements with Hong Kong, reported The Times. The International Bar Association’s ask comes as fears rise that Beijing will use the agreements to pursue dissidents abroad. The association noted that the UK suspended its extradition agreement with Hong Kong two years ago and other Commonwealth countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and Canada followed suit, as did the US and Germany. However, prominent members of the Commonwealth including India, South Africa, and Singapore maintain extradition arrangements with the former British colony.
Two agreements between Hong Kong and Russia that would allow the jurisdictions to cooperate in criminal investigations and transfer convicts are expected to be tabled to lawmakers this year, reported the Hong Kong Free Press. Hong Kong security chief Chris Tang and Russian Minister of Justice Konstantin Chuychenko signed two mutual agreements in September but so far neither has been enacted.
Hong Kong authorities have jailed Leung Kwok-hung, a former opposition lawmaker, for simply snatching a folder from an official during a legislature meeting. France 24 reported it was the latest sign of Beijing’s tightening grip over the city’s once-boisterous chamber. Previous Hong Kong legislatures had diverse political parties but after Beijing clamped down on dissent and imposed the sweeping National Security Law, authorities changed the electoral rules to ensure that only “patriots” could run for office.
In Other News
Beijing-affiliated reporters are positioning themselves as influencers and bloggers to boost China’s image on US-owned social media platforms. The Independent reported that as China continues to assert its economic might, it is using the global social media ecosystem to expand its existing influence. The vast and growing influencer network allows Beijing to spread propaganda on social media platforms around the world.
Activists gave evidence to the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee about China’s global influence. The South China Morning Post reported that the panel of reporters stated that the US must step up efforts to stem deteriorating press freedoms across East Asia, including supporting media outlets on mainland China’s periphery. Other recommendations included sanctions on those undercutting press freedom.
Beijing, which refuses to condemn the invasion of Ukraine, teamed up with Moscow to advance their vision of a new world order. CBS News reported that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made his first visit to China since the invasion of Ukraine. In a video released by the Russian foreign ministry, Lavrov said “We, together with you, and with our sympathizers will move towards a multipolar, just, democratic world order.”
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, Minister of Justice Dominic Raab and Supreme Court president Lord Reed have decided to withdraw UK judges from the #HongKong Court of Appeals. The UK Foreign Office has said it is “no longer tenable” for UK judges to sit on Hong Kong’s top court due to the impact on human rights of the National Security Law imposed by Beijing in 2020, reported the Independent. The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong’s President Mark Clifford said: “This decision by the UK Government is overdue. UK judges propping up a legal system in Hong Kong that is designed to target and destroy pro-democracy networks and jail activists and politicians is fundamentally at odds with the principles of western democracy. The position of those judges before today’s announcement had become untenable since the imposition of the National Security Law.”
Lord Reed and Lord Hodge have announced their resignations from the #HongKong Court of Final Appeal. As noted in the Hong Kong Free Press, Lord Reed, President of the UK Supreme Court stated, “The courts in Hong Kong continue to be internationally respected for their commitment to the rule of law. Nevertheless, I have concluded, in agreement with the government, that the judges of the Supreme Court cannot continue to sit in Hong Kong without appearing to endorse an administration which has departed from values of political freedom, and freedom of expression.”
Not surprisingly, China has criticised the removal of UK judges and has called it a political move, reported the South China Morning Post.
Prisoners of Conscience
A Hong Kong court has ruled against Tam Yu-hin’s appeal following his conviction for taking part in “unlawful assembly” during the 2019 pro-democracy protests, noted the Hong Kong Free Press. The appellant was among three people who were said to have participated in an unlawful assembly at the intersection of San Wan Road and So Kwun Po in Sheung Shui on November 12, 2019. On that day, Hong Kong saw citywide pro-democracy protesters stage a general strike by blocking roads in various districts.
Lawyers have said UK ministers should press Commonwealth countries to ditch extradition agreements with Hong Kong, reported The Times. The International Bar Association’s ask comes as fears rise that Beijing will use the agreements to pursue dissidents abroad. The association noted that the UK suspended its extradition agreement with Hong Kong two years ago and other Commonwealth countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and Canada followed suit, as did the US and Germany. However, prominent members of the Commonwealth including India, South Africa, and Singapore maintain extradition arrangements with the former British colony.
Two agreements between Hong Kong and Russia that would allow the jurisdictions to cooperate in criminal investigations and transfer convicts are expected to be tabled to lawmakers this year, reported the Hong Kong Free Press. Hong Kong security chief Chris Tang and Russian Minister of Justice Konstantin Chuychenko signed two mutual agreements in September but so far neither has been enacted.
Hong Kong authorities have jailed Leung Kwok-hung, a former opposition lawmaker, for simply snatching a folder from an official during a legislature meeting. France 24 reported it was the latest sign of Beijing’s tightening grip over the city’s once-boisterous chamber. Previous Hong Kong legislatures had diverse political parties but after Beijing clamped down on dissent and imposed the sweeping National Security Law, authorities changed the electoral rules to ensure that only “patriots” could run for office.
In Other News
Beijing-affiliated reporters are positioning themselves as influencers and bloggers to boost China’s image on US-owned social media platforms. The Independent reported that as China continues to assert its economic might, it is using the global social media ecosystem to expand its existing influence. The vast and growing influencer network allows Beijing to spread propaganda on social media platforms around the world.
Activists gave evidence to the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee about China’s global influence. The South China Morning Post reported that the panel of reporters stated that the US must step up efforts to stem deteriorating press freedoms across East Asia, including supporting media outlets on mainland China’s periphery. Other recommendations included sanctions on those undercutting press freedom.
Beijing, which refuses to condemn the invasion of Ukraine, teamed up with Moscow to advance their vision of a new world order. CBS News reported that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made his first visit to China since the invasion of Ukraine. In a video released by the Russian foreign ministry, Lavrov said “We, together with you, and with our sympathizers will move towards a multipolar, just, democratic world order.”