PRESS RELEASE: The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong marks its first anniversary of its founding
24th March – The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong (CFHK) marks one year of its work advocating for freedom and democracy in Hong Kong.
Over the last year, CFHK’s work has become more imperative than ever. The National Security Law has been used systematically to arrest journalists, shut down pro-democracy outlets, and silence dissenters around the world. Only recently, Beijing announced that it plans to adapt the system of governing in Hong Kong to ‘improve' national security. In reality, it is a new tool to crack down on freedom, and one we are determined to fight.
CFHK was created to fight back against these injustices. Our core principles focus on supporting the Hong Kong people in their fight against totalitarianism. Over the last 12 months, we have campaigned to protect and respect Hong Kong’s freedoms under the Basic Law.
We have been privileged to work with outstanding parliamentarians in Westminster, Edinburgh and Washington, D.C., and we are grateful for the actions like-minded governments and legislators have taken so far. We have also collaborated with NGOs around the world, including Hong Kong Watch, Hong Kong Democracy Council, Reporters Without Borders, Index on Censorship, Article 19, and Stand with Hong Kong. We have welcomed the support of leading voices from the Council on Foreign Relations, the Henry Jackson Society, the Council on Geostrategy and the Hudson Institute.
Through the pages of the New York Times, we have told the story of China’s egregious violations of law and decency. We called for the release of Jimmy Lai and the imprisoned former Apple Daily journalists, drew attention to female political prisoners in Hong Kong, and highlighted the hypocrisy of China hosting the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. Immediately before the start of the Winter Games, CFHK lit up the Chinese Embassy in Washington D.C., Tower Bridge in London and Rockefeller Plaza in New York with large-scale projections calling for freedom in Hong Kong, the release of political prisoners and an end to multinational corporations enabling China’s human rights abuses.
In the year ahead CFHK will maintain its fight for freedom in Hong Kong. Those held without bail under the National Security Law are living an enduring nightmare. That must end and we look forward to working with NGOs, governments, legislators, the media and the activist community to make that happen.
Reflecting on the past year, CFHK Chairman James B. Cunningham, said:
“In the past year, CFHK has sought to amplify the voice and plight of Hong Kongers at the highest levels around the world. The ongoing destruction of Hong Kong’s freedoms at the direction of the Chinese Communist Party, alongside the gross human rights abuses, is a travesty that the world must not look away from. The clash of values in Hong Kong today embodies the struggle for what Asia itself will become in the future.
“CFHK will continue to work on behalf of all political prisoners in Hong Kong to secure their freedom. We will build upon our work over the past year to fight for genuine respect of the rights, freedoms and rule of law promised by Beijing to the Hong Kong people.”
CFHK President Mark L. Clifford said:
“We at CFHK fight for basic human rights. Freedoms of speech, press and expression are the backbone of democracy. We will continue to bear witness to human rights violations in Hong Kong, ensuring that policymakers, politicians, media and opinion-shapers in open societies are aware of abuses taking place in Hong Kong. We are building an international coalition against the actions of human rights abusers in Hong Kong. They should know that they will be held to account.”
Over the last year, CFHK’s work has become more imperative than ever. The National Security Law has been used systematically to arrest journalists, shut down pro-democracy outlets, and silence dissenters around the world. Only recently, Beijing announced that it plans to adapt the system of governing in Hong Kong to ‘improve' national security. In reality, it is a new tool to crack down on freedom, and one we are determined to fight.
CFHK was created to fight back against these injustices. Our core principles focus on supporting the Hong Kong people in their fight against totalitarianism. Over the last 12 months, we have campaigned to protect and respect Hong Kong’s freedoms under the Basic Law.
We have been privileged to work with outstanding parliamentarians in Westminster, Edinburgh and Washington, D.C., and we are grateful for the actions like-minded governments and legislators have taken so far. We have also collaborated with NGOs around the world, including Hong Kong Watch, Hong Kong Democracy Council, Reporters Without Borders, Index on Censorship, Article 19, and Stand with Hong Kong. We have welcomed the support of leading voices from the Council on Foreign Relations, the Henry Jackson Society, the Council on Geostrategy and the Hudson Institute.
Through the pages of the New York Times, we have told the story of China’s egregious violations of law and decency. We called for the release of Jimmy Lai and the imprisoned former Apple Daily journalists, drew attention to female political prisoners in Hong Kong, and highlighted the hypocrisy of China hosting the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. Immediately before the start of the Winter Games, CFHK lit up the Chinese Embassy in Washington D.C., Tower Bridge in London and Rockefeller Plaza in New York with large-scale projections calling for freedom in Hong Kong, the release of political prisoners and an end to multinational corporations enabling China’s human rights abuses.
In the year ahead CFHK will maintain its fight for freedom in Hong Kong. Those held without bail under the National Security Law are living an enduring nightmare. That must end and we look forward to working with NGOs, governments, legislators, the media and the activist community to make that happen.
Reflecting on the past year, CFHK Chairman James B. Cunningham, said:
“In the past year, CFHK has sought to amplify the voice and plight of Hong Kongers at the highest levels around the world. The ongoing destruction of Hong Kong’s freedoms at the direction of the Chinese Communist Party, alongside the gross human rights abuses, is a travesty that the world must not look away from. The clash of values in Hong Kong today embodies the struggle for what Asia itself will become in the future.
“CFHK will continue to work on behalf of all political prisoners in Hong Kong to secure their freedom. We will build upon our work over the past year to fight for genuine respect of the rights, freedoms and rule of law promised by Beijing to the Hong Kong people.”
CFHK President Mark L. Clifford said:
“We at CFHK fight for basic human rights. Freedoms of speech, press and expression are the backbone of democracy. We will continue to bear witness to human rights violations in Hong Kong, ensuring that policymakers, politicians, media and opinion-shapers in open societies are aware of abuses taking place in Hong Kong. We are building an international coalition against the actions of human rights abusers in Hong Kong. They should know that they will be held to account.”
About CFHK
The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong 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
The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong 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