Hong Kong Watch: 'Today’s arrests represent further evidence of the unrelenting crackdown pro-democracy activists have faced in the last few weeks and months'

Today the Hong Kong Police arrested eight pro-democracy activists over their participation in this year’s annual July 1 March which marks the anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover in 1997 to Chinese rule.

Those arrested include former lawmakers Eddie Chu Hoi-dick, Wu Chi-wai and “Long Hair” Leung Kwok-hung, current district councillors Tang Sai-lai, Bull Tsang King-shing and Lancelot Chan Wing-tai, and Figo Chan, the Deputy-Convenor of the Civil Human Rights Front, organiser of the annual march.

The fresh crackdown on pro-democracy activists in the city comes just hours after the authorities arrested 8 students for a peaceful protest at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, which included 3 being arrested under the National Security Law.

Commenting on the latest round of arrests, Benedict Rogers, Hong Kong Watch’s Chief Executive said:

“Today’s arrests represent further evidence of the unrelenting crackdown pro-democracy activists have faced in the last few weeks and months, with mass arrests and sentencings becoming a daily occurrence as Beijing attempts to suffocate dissent.

The annual 1 July March is a staple of Hong Kong’s political life and a testament to the city’s autonomy and freedoms as guaranteed under the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Basic Law. To criminalise individuals peacefully marking the city’s handover to the authoritarian Chinese Communist Party is not only absurd but a complete betrayal of previous legal guarantees China made to Hong Kong and the world to respect political rights and freedoms.

Likeminded partners who believe in the rule of law, human rights, and support Hong Kong’s autonomy must act. The UK, Canada, and the EU should join the USA in using targeted Magnitksy sanctions against the Hong Kong and Chinese officials who are responsible for human rights abuses as a matter of urgency.”