TOP NEWS
Frances Hui, Policy and Advocacy Coordinator at the CFHK Foundation on Tuesday testified to Canadian parliament regarding her experience of transnational repression at the hands of the CCP. Hui described how Beijing orchestrates a global campaign to silence dissent beyond its borders and spoke of the mental and physical impacts of living under the threat of state-directed harassment and intimidation, before calling on the Canadian government to criminalise transnational repression, shutter the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in Toronto, and improve support for at-risk communities. Sam Cooper of the Canadian investigative outlet The Bureau reported Hui’s story and interviewed her for his podcast.
House Select Committee on the CCP Chair Rep. John Moolenaar and Ranking Member Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi wrote to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen calling attention to Hong Kong’s role as a hub for sanctions evasion. They asked for a risk management update on American banking relationships with Hong Kong given the city’s involvement in sanctions-busting trade with Russia, Iran, and North Korea. China Daily responded to the letter, noting that the allegations “closely echo” those made by Samuel Bickett in CFHK Foundation’s “Beneath the Harbor” report, while the Hong Kong government called the allegations “grossly unfounded.”
EU - Hong Kong
The European Parliament adopted an urgent resolution condemning the sentencing of the Hong Kong 45 and calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all pro-democracy activists, including Jimmy Lai. Members of the Parliament’s five major political groupings voted by an overwhelming majority in favour of the non-binding joint motion, which also urged the Hong Kong government to repeal the draconian National Security Law.
The European Union proposed for the first time to target Chinese and Hong Kong companies and individuals with visa bans and asset freezes over their dealings with Russian firms linked to Moscow's war effort in Ukraine. The draft sanctions propose a visa ban for a "Chinese businessperson" whose firm had dealings in Hong Kong that infringed on the European Union's restrictive measures regime imposed on the Russian Federation.
UK - Hong Kong
The Guardian launched extensive coverage in support of British citizens detained abroad, including Jimmy Lai, by interviewing their families and putting pressure on the Labour government to fulfil its manifesto pledge to introduce a legal right to consular access and a special envoy for hostages. “It took two years before [the UK] started asking for consular access,” said Mark Sabah, the Director of the CFHK Foundation. “Two years before they even said [Jimmy Lai’s] name at the dispatch box.”
On Wednesday, Foreign Secretary David Lammy told the Foreign Affairs Select Committee that he hopes to appoint a special envoy to deal with “complex” detention cases and would come forward with provisions to make consular access a legal right for citizens detained abroad.
Hong Kong
Five of the Hong Kong 45 activists, Gwyneth Ho, Owen Chow, Helena Wong, Clarissa Yeung, and Winnie Yu have appealed against their convictions and sentencing. They were all sentenced on November 19 to more than six-and-a-half years in prison on “subversion” charges under the National Security Law.
Jimmy Lai’s Trial Update
Jimmy Lai’s show trial continued this week with him returning to the stand in his own defence. When asked whether he would still report the truth if it risked inciting public discussion about the government, Lai said firmly: “I would report, because it is the truth.”
Lai denied any intention to overthrow the CCP, emphasising that his actions were driven by a desire to “reduce violence and promote peaceful protest in Hong Kong” and in hope of gathering international support to protect the city’s autonomy and freedoms.
Detailed trial updates are available here: Support Jimmy Lai
CFHK Foundation President Mark Clifford told Radio Free Asia in a video interview that “Jimmy Lai has three things that frighten China’s Communist leaders: money, media and a deep spiritual faith — principles that he is willing to die for make him someone the CCP is determined to silence.”
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