PRESS RELEASE: CFHK Foundation signs an open letter to Olaf Scholz, urging him to reconsider his upcoming visit to Beijing
2 November 2022 - The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation has signed an open letter, alongside 70 other human rights non-governmental organisations, which calls upon Olaf Scholz, the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, to reconsider his upcoming visit to Beijing. Scholz’s visit, planned for November 2022, coincides with President Xi Jinping’s third term as Secretary General of the Chinese Communist Party – a party which has, for two terms, been an aggressive instigator of human rights abuses both at home and abroad; having suppressed democracy in Hong Kong and restricted the lives of many Chinese who dare to speak out against the regime across the globe. A visit to Beijing by one of the leading members of the European Union sends the wrong message to the rest of the world - that a symbiotic relationship with China is not only welcome but encouraged. Further, it undermines the struggle for freedom and democracy that the citizens of Hong Kong are continuing to fight. Should Scholz’s visit go ahead without concern, the likelihood of other European Union member states strengthening relationships and trade partnerships with China increases. The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation is deeply concerned about Scholz’s visit and the potential ramifications for the future of the European Union’s relationship with China and it implores him to reconsider. CFHK Foundation President, Mark Clifford, said: “It’s outrageous that Olaf Scholz would be planning a visit to Beijing at a time when China’s human rights abuses are rife and not just within their own borders, as this month a report showed that the CCP have police stations operating all over the world targeting Chinese dissidents abroad. This visit is dangerous and deeply upsetting for those who are victims at the hands of the CCP.”
About the CFHK Foundation The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation presses for political and economic consequences for China’s failure to keep its promises to respect Hong Kong’s freedoms; supports the rule of law, freedom of expression, and the release of political prisoners; and urges the business community to stand against China’s assault on freedom and the danger it poses to Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre. Hong Kong’s fate is linked to the preservation of freedom, democracy, and international law in the region and around the world. For more information, please contact: media@thecfhk.org www.thecfhk.org @thecfhk