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Ten senior Catholic leaders from around the world signed a petition urging the Hong Kong government to immediately and unconditionally release Jimmy Lai. In the petition, the leaders state, “There is no place for such cruelty and oppression in a territory that claims to uphold the rule of law and respect the right to freedom of expression. In standing up for his beliefs and committing himself through his faith to challenge autocracy and repression, Jimmy Lai has lost his business, been cut off from his family, and has just surpassed 1,000 days in prison, while facing the prospect of many more years of incarceration to come. He is 75 years old. He must be freed now.”
Last week, a bipartisan and bicameral group of U.S. lawmakers led by Congresswoman Young Kim (R-CA-40) introduced the Hong Kong Sanctions Act that would lead to the sanctioning of Hong Kong officials, judges and prosecutors who have played a chief role in undermining the rule of law in Hong Kong. Frances Hui, Policy and Advocacy Coordinator of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation (CFHK Foundation) told Forbes, “The Hong Kong Judicial Sanctions Act will support the freedom-loving people of Hong Kong by requiring decisive actions by the US to hold these egregious offenders accountable.”
90 Hong Kong lawmakers released a statement denouncing calls from U.S. politicians to place sanctions on the city's officials, judges and prosecutors. They referred to the Hong Kong Sanctions Act as a “disgraceful” effort to meddle in the domestic affairs of Hong Kong.
On the 14th of November, the CFHK Foundation, Civitas and Bob Seely MP will host a report launch in the British Parliament, titled, ‘The strategic dependence of UK Universities on funding from China – and the challenges to our national security’. Leading researchers and commentators will expose the latest information on the Chinese Communist Party’s influence within British universities. To RSVP, please contact megan.khoo@thecfhk.org. RSVP required to attend.
On the 15th of November, the CFHK Foundation, Henry Jackson Society and Tom Randall MP will host a panel discussion in the British Parliament, titled, ‘De-risking British Universities’ over-reliance on China’. The panel will explore the national security challenges posed by the Chinese Communist Party's concerted efforts to expand its overseas intelligence gathering and exert foreign policy influence on British university campuses. To RSVP, please contact megan.khoo@thecfhk.org. RSVP required to attend.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong Security Minister Chris Tang said that he expects the upcoming trial of British citizen Jimmy Lai to trigger “smear campaigns” against Hong Kong. Tang also expressed that the trial will expose the “extent of the bad crimes” that Lai allegedly committed.
Pro-Beijing legislator Junius Lo slammed the Hong Kong government's plan to redevelop the Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre, an overcrowded prison. Lo questioned why detainees like Jimmy Lai should be provided with “good services”.
Veteran Hong Kong lawyer Kwok Cheuk-kin initiated a legal challenge against the nomination process for the upcoming “patriots-only” District Council elections, which has blocked pro-democracy candidates from securing nominations.
The Hong Kong police stopped citizens and journalists to conduct identity checks on the fourth anniversary of the death of pro-democracy protester Chow Tsz-Lok. The authorities also immediately removed flowers that citizens had laid at the site of his death.
US-China Relations
The Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) Chairs Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ-04) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) wrote a letter to President Biden, asking him to discuss the Chinese Communist Party’s transnational repression and political prisoners including Jimmy Lai and Gulshan Abbas during his meeting with Xi Jinping at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting next week.
59 human rights organisations sent a letter to President Joe Biden, urging him to raise the Chinese Communist Party’s ongoing human rights violations at home and abroad with Xi Jinping at the APEC meeting in San Francisco.