Hong Kong Watch Briefing on Human Rights Developments: June 2023

This briefing describes developments in Hong Kong in June 2023 focusing on the rapid deterioration of human rights in the city following the introduction of the National Security Law.

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

POLITICAL PRISONERS: ARRESTS, CHARGES, & TRIALS

In the last month, Beijing continued its crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong, with the following developments:

  • Hong Kong police issue arrest warrants and bounties for eight overseas activists.

  • Court of Appeal blocks Jimmy Lai’s bid to challenge a national security search warrant of his phones.

THE STATE OF THE RULE OF LAW AND POLICING

  • Police arrest pro-democracy figures on Tiananmen Square anniversary.

  • HSBC terminates bank accounts of opposition party League of Social Democrats.

  • Former executive at ByteDance alleges that the CCP accessed user data from TikTok belonging to Hong Kong protesters and civil rights activists.

A FREE PRESS IN THE CROSS HAIRS

  • Protest anthem Glory to Hong Kong starts to vanish from online sites as government seeks ban.

  • Pro-democracy online Citizens’ Radio station closes citing ‘dangerous’ political situation.

STATE SECURITY AND ECONOMY

  • Hong Kong firms sanctioned by US for allegedly aiding Iran’s missile programme.

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS

  • Hong Kong protesters attacked by Chinese activists in Southampton.

  • UK and US politicians write to HSBC Chief Executive over the blocking of BNO visa holders’ access to their pension savings held in MPF schemes.

  • Over 40 human rights organisations write to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on his visit to China.

  • EU Parliament adopts resolution urging the Hong Kong government to immediately release and drop all charges against pro-democratic representatives and activists.

Briefing, NewsFrances BellHR