NEWSLETTER: The CFHK Foundation Co-Organises First-Ever UK-Hong Kong Summit
Committee News
The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong (CFHK) Foundation was delighted to co-organise and participate in the first-ever UK-Hong Kong Summit, where nearly two hundred Hong Kongers from throughout Britain met with British Parliamentarians to share their stories from Hong Kong and highlight their experiences since living in Britain. Speakers included Stephen Hammond MP, Hong Kong Watch’s Chief Executive Benedict Rogers, former Ukrainian MP Aliona Hlivco, former governor of Hong Kong Lord Chris Patten, Britain’s Shadow Minister for Immigration Stephen Kinnock MP, and All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Hong Kong member Lord David Alton.
The Daily Express interviewed the CFHK Foundation’s Mark Clifford ahead of the UK-Hong Kong Summit. Mr Clifford highlighted the need for Britain to label China as a ‘threat’, saying, "Downing Street realises the Golden age of trade with China is over, but there is still a sense that we can somehow have it both ways.”
The CFHK Foundation’s Mark Sabah spoke with NTD News Today to highlight the launch of the UK-Hong Kong Summit in London. Mr Sabah said, “You're telling Hong Kongers 'you've come here to be safe', but they're not. [The Bob Chan attack] had a very negative effect on the mentality of Hong Kongers who suddenly realised they're on their own even though they're here.”
Sky News conducted an exclusive interview with Lord Chris Patten, who was the former governor of Hong Kong, at the UK-Hong Kong Summit. Lord Patten called it, “demeaning and delusional for the UK to not call out China’s behaviour over trade fears”.
The CFHK Foundation's President, Mark Clifford, told The Guardian in an interview that the UK government needs to do more to support the release of British citizen Jimmy Lai. Mr Clifford also said, “The British government doesn’t seem to be doing a lot to protect Hong Kong activists who have fled to the UK”.
Mark Sabah, the CFHK Foundation’s UK & EU Director, spoke with Channels TV about a debate in British Parliament on UK-China relations that the CFHK Foundation helped organise with Jim Shannon MP to mark ten years of Xi Jinping’s leadership in China.
The CFHK Foundation released a statement in response to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s first full speech on EU-China relations. The CFHK Foundation’s Mark Sabah commented, “President von der Leyen’s speech is significant for the future of EU-China relations because it provides a basis from which EU countries can call out the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for being the threat that it is”.
The CFHK Foundation’s Communications Manager, Megan Khoo, wrote in the CFHK Foundation blog about how the British government should cancel Hong Kong Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui’s official visit to the UK.
In the last few weeks there has been a significant rise in the number of fake social media accounts and fake emails posing as prominent individuals who are outspoken against the CCP that have targeted CFHK Foundation staff. Please be wary of messages and emails that you receive, for the CCP is on a mission to silence the truth.
Hong Kong
Last weekend Hong Kong permitted the first authorised march in three years. However, the National Security Law has negatively impacted the right to protest as the protest’s numbers were capped at 100, all marchers had to wear numbers identifying them, the presence of the press was restricted, it was advised to not wear yellow or black attire, and the police pre-screened the rally’s leaflets.
Reporters Without Borders highlighted that there are six months until the beginning of Jimmy Lai’s National Security Law trial. Rishi Sunak should respond to the British Parliament’s request to speak out in defence of Jimmy Lai’s name and place pressure on the Hong Kong authorities to immediately release British citizen Jimmy Lai.
The United Nations urged the Hong Kong authorities to release human rights activist Albert Ho, who was recently rearrested by Hong Kong’s national security police for “witness tampering”.
In the ongoing National Security Law trial against the Hong Kong 47, Benny Tai has been accused of 'politicising' Hong Kong's district councils for promoting democracy.
Hong Kong’s national security police arrested a 48-year-old woman for her “seditious” Twitter posts, revealing the Hong Kong authorities continued random assault against Hong Kongers’ global right to free speech.
Hong Kong denied bail to a Portuguese national under the National Security Law for managing the Hong Kong Independence Party’s social media accounts.
UK-China Relations
The British Shadow Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, revealed the Labour Party’s latest foreign policy goals. When it comes to China, the plan includes “prioritising national security” and “standing firm on human rights” as well as engaging where necessary.
The British government announced a new settlement route that will allow Hong Kongers who served in the British military pre-handover to legally settle in Britain.