HKW Statement on 25th anniversary of the handover & 2nd anniversary of the National Security Law

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong and the 2nd anniversary of the introduction of the draconian National Security Law. These anniversaries are a sombre time for the people of Hong Kong and the democratic world that stands with their right to autonomous government, the rule of law, and to basic rights and freedoms.

In the last two years we have seen mass arrests in Hong Kong with over 800 individuals now political prisoners, the dismantling of a free press, the re-writing of electoral rules to bar pro-democracy parties from running for office, the resurrection of anti-sedition laws and new curbs on the internet, the forced closure of civil society organisations, the erosion of the rule of law, and the introduction of national security education to brainwash the next generation of young Hong Kongers.

It is clear that China has flagrantly breached its international obligations to uphold Hong Kong’s autonomy and its promises to respect basic human rights, ending any pretention that it will uphold the “One Country, Two Systems” model as previously promised until 2047.

In light of the destruction of Hong Kong’s way of life, we urge likeminded democratic governments to meet their statements of condemnation with action. This must include holding the perpetrators of gross human rights violations and the dismantling of the city’s freedoms to account through targeted sanctions, the provision of lifeboat schemes for those Hong Kongers who do not qualify for BNO or the BNO visa extension, pushing for the release of political prisoners, and further calling out the Chinese Government’s appalling crackdown in multinational institutions.

To mark these anniversaries governments must recommit to standing with the people of Hong Kong not just in empty words but in sustained and coordinated action.