Hong Kong Watch welcomes the publication of the FCDO six-monthly report on Hong Kong and calls for further action from the UK Government

Today, the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office published its six-monthly report on Hong Kong from the period of 1 January 2022- 30 June 2022.

In his Foreword to the report, the Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly MP, noted: “Hong Kong’s autonomy is declining, and the pervasive, chilling effect of the National Security Law seeps into all aspects of society. Freedoms are being systematically eroded by Beijing on multiple fronts, tightening the restrictions on the lives of ordinary Hong Kongers.”

The report provides extensive coverage of the growing human rights crisis in Hong Kong, including the detention of political prisoners, the arrest of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund trustees, Beijing’s electoral changes, the appointment of John Lee as Chief Executive, the removal of sitting UK judges from the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal, the targeting of Hong Kong Watch by the National Security Law, changes to the recruitment of civil servants, and the ongoing crackdown on the press and civil society.

The Foreign Secretary in his Foreword went on to say that the UK will watch closely how the Hong Kong Chief Executive implements Beijing’s interpretation of the law regarding the removal of foreign lawyers from national security cases and that “we will work constructively with the new Chief Executive where we can within the wider relationship, but we will judge the Hong Kong government based on its actions.”

The full report can be read here.

Commenting on the release of the six-monthly report by the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office, Benedict Rogers, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Watch said:

“We welcome the publication of the six-monthly report on Hong Kong and the foreword from the Foreign Secretary which details the ongoing human rights crisis, electoral changes, the mass arrest and detention of journalists, activists, and lawmakers, challenges to the rule of law, and the targeting of Hong Kong Watch under the draconian National Security Law. We also welcome the fact that for the first time, the report recognises increasing threats to freedom of religion or belief, an issue which we are increasingly monitoring with concern.

Not only does this report offer a thorough and authoritative account of the way that rights have been systematically eroded in Hong Kong, but it presents significant evidence of ongoing human rights violations and breaches of the Sino-British Joint Declaration which merit a firm policy response from the UK Government beyond its BNO Visa scheme.

This should include increased pressure from the UK Government for the release of Jimmy Lai, who is a UK citizen, and other political prisoners, as well as the removal of the remaining UK judges from the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal.

It is disappointing to read that the Foreign Secretary wishes to work constructively with John Lee, who as Chief Executive and previously Security Minister has rightly been sanctioned by the US for his ongoing role in the human rights crackdown and the destruction of Hong Kong’s autonomy.

Given that the FCDO notes that authorities continue to diminish Hong Kong’s autonomy and the right of the Hong Kong people in ongoing non-compliance with the Joint Declaration, we urge the Foreign Secretary to join the US in sanctioning those responsible, starting with John Lee.”