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The Hong Kong national security police questioned the parents of Anna Kwok, the youngest of the eight exiled Hong Kong pro-democracy activists with HK$1 million bounties on their heads. Olivia Enos, Washington Director of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation (CFHK Foundation), said, “Anna is not only a leader in standing for freedom in Hong Kong, but also our colleague and friend. The U.S. government should act in concert with the U.K. and Australian governments to immediately and publicly respond to the intimidation against five of the families of the eight targeted Hong Kong activists and make it clear that the National Security Law has no jurisdiction outside Hong Kong.”
Megan Khoo, Communications Manager for the CFHK Foundation, spoke at a protest hosted by The 29 Principles at the Laos embassy in London to call for the immediate release of Chinese human rights lawyer Lu Siwei, who previously represented two members of the Hong Kong 12 and was arrested in Laos last week. “We urge Laos to call on the Chinese authorities to drop potential charges against Siwei, to halt all processes of repatriation, and to allow Siwei to meet with diplomats from the U.S. and other countries to help him resume his journey to reunite with his family,” said Mrs Khoo.
HSBC executive Sherard Cowper-Coles apologised for calling the UK government “weak” for reducing business with China. The CFHK Foundation told The Telegraph, “HSBC continues to bow to the Hong Kong authorities as it is one of several banks that prevents Hong Kongers from accessing more than £2.2 billion worth of their hard-earned pensions.”
The Times investigated a cyberattack against the British Electoral Commission that could affect the data of dissidents including Hong Kongers. Mark Sabah, UK and EU Director of the CFHK Foundation, said, “Whether it is Russia, China or any hostile actor who hacked into the Electoral Commission, the cyberattack poses a grave risk for Hong Kongers and other dissidents who call Britain home. Hong Kongers should not continue to be stalked from the very fear they fled from.”
Jimmy Lai
Wednesday marked the third anniversary of the first arrest of British citizen Jimmy Lai under the National Security Law in Hong Kong. Lai now has been behind bars for 953 consecutive days. Join Index on Censorship in sending Jimmy Lai a message of support, which will be transcribed to a postcard, ahead of his upcoming trial on 25 September.
Sebastien Lai, son of Jimmy Lai, detailed the continued erosion of the rule of law in Hong Kong in The Economist. “So the next time you hear one of Hong Kong’s smartly produced ads touting its business-friendly credentials, remember Jimmy Lai,” he wrote.
Hong Kong
After a Hong Kong court determined banning the pro-democracy anthem Glory to Hong Kong could have a “chilling” effect on free speech, the Hong Kong government made a bid to appeal the court’s rejection. The Hong Kong government later said that Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee, and not the courts, should have the “greatest weight” in determining cases that affect national security.
Ten Hong Kongers accused of “conspiring” with the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund to support 2019 extradition bill protesters in Hong Kong were arrested and are undergoing investigation.
More than 100 days into the trial of the Hong Kong 47, Owen Chow teared up as he testified that he considered quitting the unofficial primary election for fears of violating the National Security Law, but pressed on as to not “abandon the crowd.”
UK-China Relations
Brick Lane in London, which is well-known for street art, was covered by Chinese nationalists with Chinese Communist Party slogans including the “core socialist values”. The wall was then an arena for war between Chinese nationalists and anti-Beijing dissidents posting and reposting graffiti to support or denounce the Chinese government, until the local council whitewashed the wall.
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