Benedict Rogers: International lifeboat for HK urgently needed

The arrest of 19 year-old Tony Chung and two others on Monday as he prepared to seek asylum at the United States Consulate illustrates two points about Hong Kong today: the desperation on the part of young activists, and the draconian impact of the National Security Law.

To attempt to seek asylum in the U.S. Consulate – without even an appointment – was an act almost as unwise as attempting to flee the city in a speedboat in the world’s most perilous waters. Anyone who knows the diplomatic missions in Hong Kong could tell you that even in the midst of a stand-off between the United States and China over human rights, security and trade, the tragic reality is that the U.S. Consulate is not going to risk a dramatic escalation in tensions by sheltering a teenage pro- independence activist. Those who advised Mr Chung to attempt this path did him a grave disservice.

But let us not waste time playing a blame game. For the really striking point is this: the fact that he was prepared to attempt something so dramatic illustrates for the world how bad the situation in Hong Kong has become. Such an act of desperation should be a wake-up call to the free world that it is time to step up efforts to help Hongkongers. This message is underlined by the fact that later that same day, four other activists attempted a bid for asylum at the consulate, and were similarly rejected.

These incidents came just two days after a global movement of solidarity with the 12 Hongkongers in jail in Shenzhen. Around the world thousands of people gathered to protest for their release. In London, I spoke alongside my friends Nathan Law and Luke de Pulford at a rally at the iconic Tower Bridge attended by hundreds of demonstrators, organized by our wonderful allies Stand With Hong Kong and Democracy for Hong Kong.

Two days earlier, 63 British Members of Parliament sent a letter to the British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab urging him to raise the case of the 12 with the Chinese authorities.

Throughout the previous week thousands of people around the world engaged in a social media campaign in support of the 12 – from the former leader of the British Conservative Party Iain Duncan Smith to the former U.S. presidential candidate Senator Mitt Romney, from the climate change activist Greta Thurnberg to the former Miss World Canada Anastasia Lin, from politicians across parties and across nations from Europe to Australia, and from Joshua Wong to Grandma Wong. A truly inspiring mix of humanity speaking with one voice – and to be honest, if Grandma Wong is willing to speak out for the 12 after everything she has been through and the dangers she still faces, none of us have any excuse whatsoever for silence.

As I said in my speech last Saturday, we must keep campaigning for the release of the 12 – and at least, in the meantime, for them to have access to lawyers of their choice, medical care and family contact. It is outrageous that the lawyers chosen by the families of the 12 were earlier this week ordered by the Chinese authorities to drop the case. That brought home once again to us all what we of course have always known: in mainland China there’s no rule of law whatsoever – it’s rule by

law, and the law can mean whatever the Chinese Communist Party regime wants it to mean.

The plight of the 12 – and now of Tony Chung and his colleagues – is not only about them. It is about all of us. If they are left to their fate and the world moves on, if they are allowed to languish in jail unheard and unknown, then no one – absolutely no one – is safe.

And by that I don’t only mean Hongkongers. Clearly Hongkongers are in the frontline – and the news that the police are establishing a national security hotline to invite the public to snoop on each other and report suspected national security law breaches is terrifying. Hong Kong is being turned from one of Asia’s most open cities into a template from the pages of George Orwell’s 1984.

I have worked with people who helped North Korean refugees rush into foreign embassies to claim asylum. In my work on Myanmar I have tried to draw the world’s attention to scenes of Rohingyas on overcrowded boats trying to flee a genocide. I never imagined I would see Hongkongers fleeing their city by boat or running into consulates in search of asylum. The National Security Law has not only killed what was left of Hong Kong’s freedoms, but is clearly being implemented in a way designed to create a chill factor for anyone else contemplating exercising their liberty.

But it doesn’t end there. If the 12 are forgotten, if Tony Chung is allowed to disappear, the CCP won’t stop there. Our own freedoms around the world will increasingly be in the firing line. So it’s not only morally right, it’s not only compassionate, but it is in the interests of every freedom-loving person everywhere in the world to defend the 12, to speak up for Tony and his friends, to ensure they’re not forgotten. Don’t let Tony, his friends or any of us become the 13th .

That’s why an international lifeboat rescue programme is so urgently needed. Instead of activists risking their lives fleeing on speedboats or rushing into the consulates, let the free world open its doors in a clear, co-ordinated way.

Earlier this week Nathan Law wrote to New Zealand’s recently re-elected Prime Minister Jacintha Adern urging her to consider a lifeboat programme, and Hong Kong Watch has been advocating the same with Canada, Australia, the United States, European allies and others. Britain’s generous offer to Hong Kong’s British National Overseas (BNO) passport holders opens in just over two months' time, and we’re trying to encourage the British government to do more for non-BNOs too because we know they are among the most vulnerable and in danger, but other countries in the free world must also play their part.

Hong Kong should never become a pawn in a U.S.-China trade war. The struggle for Hong Kong is not about power games, it’s about human lives and liberties. The life and liberty of Tony, of Andy, of Grandma Wong, of you and me. And it is a matter for every free nation in the world, and every freedom-loving person.

But as the United States goes to the polls next week, whoever wins the presidency and control of Congress, may they redouble their efforts to fight for Hong Kong and its freedoms, and to strengthen a global alliance of democracies in the same fight.

And as we continue to seek the release of Tony Chung, Andy Li, the 12 and every other political prisoner, let us remember: We are the 12. We are Tony. We could be next if we don’t fight.

Benedict Rogers is co-founder and Chief Executive of Hong Kong Watch. This article was published in Apple Daily on 30 October 2020. (Photo: Apple Daily)