NEWSLETTER: Hong Kong’s leader Carrie Lam has announced she will not be running in the upcoming Chief Executive election.
Welcome to the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong (CFHK) weekly newsletter.
Every week, this newsletter will bring you the latest updates and developments concerning freedom in Hong Kong.
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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.
Committee News
Last week, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) announced the decision to withdraw UK judges from the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal noting “it has become increasingly untenable for the UK Government to endorse UK judges sitting on the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal.” The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong’s (CFHK) President Mark Clifford wrote letters to The Times and the Financial Times, expressing his support for the decision. In the letter to The Times, Mark responds to a letter by Adrian Huggins, which states that the presence of internationally renowned judges contributes positively to Hong Kong’s judicial system. In the letter to the Financial Times, Mark states that the decision by the UK government was long overdue. Read the letters below.
The Times
Sir, I disagree with Adrian Huggins (letter, Apr 1). British judges propping up a legal system in Hong Kong that is designed to target and destroy democracy and its supporters is at odds with the principles of western democracy, and the six British judges refusing to stand down should do so immediately. The withdrawal of political support for the judges was the only available path for agovernment committed to freedom in Hong Kong. How can one explain to friends, jailed politicians and activists that British “internationally renowned judges” serving in Hong Kong are in fact their allies. In practice, I suppose, as they are led from the witness box to a cell.
Financial Times
The British government’s announcement that UK judges serving on the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal should resign (Report, March 31; and “British judges’ recusal from Hong Kong”, FT View, April 4) comes at a time when the world is witnessing one totalitarian regime – Russia – eradicate democracy and freedom in another nation – Ukraine.
The decision by the UK government is long overdue. UK judges propping up a legal system in Hong Kong that is designed to target and destroy democracy and its supporters is fundamentally at odds with the principles of western democracy. However, by making this decision, the UK is demonstrating its commitment to standing up for freedoms in Hong Kong.
Chief Executive Election
Hong Kong’s leader Carrie Lam has announced she will not be running in the upcoming Chief Executive election meaning the city will have a new leader. The Guardian noted that Lam’s time in office has been marked by upheavals of anti-government protests, with critics accusing Lam of helping China suppress Hong Kong’s freedoms. Commenting on Lam’s resignation in Politico, CFHK President Mark Clifford said: “I am sure it was not her decision. She might have been relieved, but everything we know about her kind of stubborn stick-to-it-iveness nature suggests that it wasn’t her decision, it was Beijing’s decision.”
Following Carrie Lam’s announcement, deputy leader John Lee signalled his intention to run for Chief Executive, as he resigned from his position in order to run in the upcoming election. The Times reported that Lee’s announcement ensures China’s plan to secure a loyal “iron man” as Hong Kong’s next leader is progressing. Given his background as former security chief and deputy police commissioner, Lee is predicted to crackdown even harder on freedoms and democracy.
Prisoners of Conscience
Hong Kong national security police have arrested six people for causing disruption in court, reported the South China Morning Post. The individuals were charged with suspicion of seditious intention to incite hatred, contempt, or rebelling against the administration of justice in Hong Kong. The charges come after the accused applauded during a trial in a Hong Kong court. The six suspects, four men and two women, included Tang Kin-wah, the former vice-chairman of the Confederation of Trade Unions, and citizen journalist Siu Wan. International organisations have come together to condemn the ludicrous charges enabled by the National Security Law.
A Hong Kong court has sentenced five people for up to four and a half years over rioting charges relating to protests in 2019, reported the Hong Kong Free Press. The protests took place on October 1, 2019, as demonstrators took to the streets to “mourn” the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Three of them were jailed, with the other two being sent to detention and training centres. The convicted will become another statistic on Hong Kong’s political prisoner list.
The Georgetown Center for Asian Law has been tracking every National Security Law related arrest since July 1, 2020. Their findings show that since the imposition of the law, 183 people have been arrested for alleged national security crimes, reported China File. The majority of the arrests are linked to one of three aims: the dampening of free speech, the punishment of those maintaining foreign contacts, or the crackdown on pro-democracy opposition political figures.
Press
A survey conducted by the Hong Kong Opinion Research Institute (HKPORI) has found that satisfaction with Hong Kong press freedom and media outlets is at a record low. The Hong Kong Free Press reported that 28% of respondents were satisfied with the level of press freedom in Hong Kong, the lowest rate since records began in September 1997. The overall satisfaction with media outlets’ performance also dropped from last year’s 8% to 2% this year, another record low. Chris Yeung, the former chairperson of the Hong Kong Journalist Association and founder of now-defunct online outlet Citizen News, said that the closure of several media outlets was “definitely” a contributing factor to people’s dissatisfaction.
In Other News
Jesus College at the University of Cambridge accepted funding from a Chinese university with close links to the Chinese military to conduct research on China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The Times reported that Jesus College accepted £20,000 from Tsinghua University in Beijing for ‘background research’ on foreign business involvement in the Initiative in 2019. The disclosure comes as British universities are being accused of helping China in its “reputation washing.”
Last week, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) announced the decision to withdraw UK judges from the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal noting “it has become increasingly untenable for the UK Government to endorse UK judges sitting on the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal.” The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong’s (CFHK) President Mark Clifford wrote letters to The Times and the Financial Times, expressing his support for the decision. In the letter to The Times, Mark responds to a letter by Adrian Huggins, which states that the presence of internationally renowned judges contributes positively to Hong Kong’s judicial system. In the letter to the Financial Times, Mark states that the decision by the UK government was long overdue. Read the letters below.
The Times
Sir, I disagree with Adrian Huggins (letter, Apr 1). British judges propping up a legal system in Hong Kong that is designed to target and destroy democracy and its supporters is at odds with the principles of western democracy, and the six British judges refusing to stand down should do so immediately. The withdrawal of political support for the judges was the only available path for agovernment committed to freedom in Hong Kong. How can one explain to friends, jailed politicians and activists that British “internationally renowned judges” serving in Hong Kong are in fact their allies. In practice, I suppose, as they are led from the witness box to a cell.
Financial Times
The British government’s announcement that UK judges serving on the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal should resign (Report, March 31; and “British judges’ recusal from Hong Kong”, FT View, April 4) comes at a time when the world is witnessing one totalitarian regime – Russia – eradicate democracy and freedom in another nation – Ukraine.
The decision by the UK government is long overdue. UK judges propping up a legal system in Hong Kong that is designed to target and destroy democracy and its supporters is fundamentally at odds with the principles of western democracy. However, by making this decision, the UK is demonstrating its commitment to standing up for freedoms in Hong Kong.
Chief Executive Election
Hong Kong’s leader Carrie Lam has announced she will not be running in the upcoming Chief Executive election meaning the city will have a new leader. The Guardian noted that Lam’s time in office has been marked by upheavals of anti-government protests, with critics accusing Lam of helping China suppress Hong Kong’s freedoms. Commenting on Lam’s resignation in Politico, CFHK President Mark Clifford said: “I am sure it was not her decision. She might have been relieved, but everything we know about her kind of stubborn stick-to-it-iveness nature suggests that it wasn’t her decision, it was Beijing’s decision.”
Following Carrie Lam’s announcement, deputy leader John Lee signalled his intention to run for Chief Executive, as he resigned from his position in order to run in the upcoming election. The Times reported that Lee’s announcement ensures China’s plan to secure a loyal “iron man” as Hong Kong’s next leader is progressing. Given his background as former security chief and deputy police commissioner, Lee is predicted to crackdown even harder on freedoms and democracy.
Prisoners of Conscience
Hong Kong national security police have arrested six people for causing disruption in court, reported the South China Morning Post. The individuals were charged with suspicion of seditious intention to incite hatred, contempt, or rebelling against the administration of justice in Hong Kong. The charges come after the accused applauded during a trial in a Hong Kong court. The six suspects, four men and two women, included Tang Kin-wah, the former vice-chairman of the Confederation of Trade Unions, and citizen journalist Siu Wan. International organisations have come together to condemn the ludicrous charges enabled by the National Security Law.
A Hong Kong court has sentenced five people for up to four and a half years over rioting charges relating to protests in 2019, reported the Hong Kong Free Press. The protests took place on October 1, 2019, as demonstrators took to the streets to “mourn” the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Three of them were jailed, with the other two being sent to detention and training centres. The convicted will become another statistic on Hong Kong’s political prisoner list.
The Georgetown Center for Asian Law has been tracking every National Security Law related arrest since July 1, 2020. Their findings show that since the imposition of the law, 183 people have been arrested for alleged national security crimes, reported China File. The majority of the arrests are linked to one of three aims: the dampening of free speech, the punishment of those maintaining foreign contacts, or the crackdown on pro-democracy opposition political figures.
Press
A survey conducted by the Hong Kong Opinion Research Institute (HKPORI) has found that satisfaction with Hong Kong press freedom and media outlets is at a record low. The Hong Kong Free Press reported that 28% of respondents were satisfied with the level of press freedom in Hong Kong, the lowest rate since records began in September 1997. The overall satisfaction with media outlets’ performance also dropped from last year’s 8% to 2% this year, another record low. Chris Yeung, the former chairperson of the Hong Kong Journalist Association and founder of now-defunct online outlet Citizen News, said that the closure of several media outlets was “definitely” a contributing factor to people’s dissatisfaction.
In Other News
Jesus College at the University of Cambridge accepted funding from a Chinese university with close links to the Chinese military to conduct research on China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The Times reported that Jesus College accepted £20,000 from Tsinghua University in Beijing for ‘background research’ on foreign business involvement in the Initiative in 2019. The disclosure comes as British universities are being accused of helping China in its “reputation washing.”