Top News
This week, Frances Hui, the Advocacy and Policy Coordinator of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong foundation (CFHK Foundation) was placed under a HK$1 million Hong Kong dollar bounty by the region’s authorities. She was accused under the National Security Law of colluding with foreign forces.
In the wake of the announcement, Frances Hui immediately issued a statement, saying: “many of the people who have been charged with violating the National Security Law have been doing in Hong Kong and abroad – to call for freedom for our beloved city Hong Kong, but also for my fellow Hong Kongers and our dear friends among the thousands who are currently being held in prison for doing that exact same thing.”
The U.S. Department of State condemned the Hong Kong authorities for placing this bounty and reiterated that “Hong Kong authorities have no jurisdiction within United States borders, where the advocates for democracy and freedom will continue to enjoy their constitutionally guaranteed freedoms and rights.”
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and Foreign Secretary David Cameron condemned the persecution of Hong Kong political activists and urged the Hong Kong and Chinese authorities to cease their activities in the UK.
Jimmy Lai
The trial of British citizen Jimmy Lai is set to commence on Monday 18 December. His National Security Law (NSL) trial was previously postponed in September. Since then, Jimmy Lai has spent an additional 83 days in detention, adding to the 1000 days already spent on other spurious charges. The 76-year-old could be facing a possible life sentence under the NSL, which currently has a 100% conviction rate. Stay tuned for updates on this developing issue.
Sebastien Lai, son of Jimmy Lai met with British Foreign Secretary David Cameron to discuss his father's imprisonment. The FCDO then stated on their social media that they “will continue to stand by Jimmy Lai and the people of Hong Kong.”
Jimmy Lai received honorary citizenship from the French city of Lyon for his fight to uphold the values of media pluralism and press freedom in Hong Kong, to mark International Human Rights Day.
Hong Kong
A record low voter turnout of 27.5 percent was observed in Hong Kong's district council "patriots-only" election, likely due to the series of autocratic reforms that the majority of Hong Kongers are opposed to.
コメント