Lord Patten: Arrest of three leading Hong Kong citizens is ‘outrageous’

Hong Kong Watch, as well as leading UK politicians, have today condemned the arrest of Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, the vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Labour Party Lee Cheuk-yan and former chairman of the Hong Kong Democratic Party Yeung Sum by the Hong Kong Police earlier today.

Mr Lai, founder of Next Media which publishes the pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper, was charged with illegal assembly for allegedly participating in a demonstration on 31 August last year, and also faces a charge of “intimidation” for a brief verbal altercation with a reporter in 2017. Mr Lee and Mr Yeung are charged with illegal assembly. The three have been released from police custody and are due to appear in court on 5 May.

Lord Patten of Barnes shared a quote with Hong Kong Watch, saying:

“The arrest of three leading Hong Kong citizens, all of them known in their city and around the world as brave and respected advocates of free speech, accountable government, responsible social policy and political liberty is outrageous. 

The Hong Kong Government, doubtless once more under instruction from the Communist regime in Beijing, appears to be twisting the law to attempt to frighten the community into accepting the Communist Party's attempts to bully Hong Kong to give up its belief in, and support for, the rule of law and the principle of 'one country, two systems.' 

This decision will send yet another signal to the world that the Chinese Communist Party is intent on throttling decency and freedom in Hong Kong. 

China's priority at the moment should clearly not be turning  screws on a city which is celebrated for its commitment to values most of the world accepts, and is battling coronavirus.”

Lord Alton of Liverpool, a Patron of Hong Kong Watch, has written to the Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab today raising the case. He has also tabled a Parliamentary Question in the House of Lords, asking the British government “(a) what is its response to the arrest of Hong Kong media entrepreneur Jimmy Lai, the vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Labour Party Lee Cheuk-yan and former chairman of the Hong Kong Democratic Party Yeung Sum by the Hong Kong Police, (b) what representations is it making to the governments of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the People’s Republic of China and (c) what does the arrest of three prominent mainstream pro-democracy leaders mean for the prospects of “one country, two systems” and the protection of freedoms promised to the Hong Kong people under the Sino-British Joint Declaration and guaranteed under the Basic Law?”

Lord Alton said: “These arrests are shocking and represent yet another very serious setback for ‘one country, two systems’ and Hong Kong’s freedoms. I urge the British government and others in the international community to raise this immediately and to urge the authorities to drop these charges.”

Benedict Rogers, co-founder and Chairman of Hong Kong Watch, said: “It is outrageous that three such prominent pro-democracy public figures should be arrested in this way. This is yet another example of the serious erosion of and assault on Hong Kong’s freedoms, human rights and autonomy. We call on the United Kingdom and other governments around the world to make immediate representations and take action to protect Hong Kong’s rapidly dwindling freedoms.”