Hong Kong Watch Canada testifies at Human Rights Subcommittee on the detention of Jimmy Lai

On Tuesday, Hong Kong Watch Canada’s Policy Advisor Katherine Leung testified as a witness at a hearing held by the Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development in the House of Commons, on the detention of Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong. Other witnesses included Sebastien Lai, son of Jimmy Lai, Caoilfhionn Gallagher, KC, head of Jimmy Lai’s international legal team, and Luke de Pulford, Executive Director of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC).

Ms. Leung’s testimony outlined the importance of using Magnitsky sanctions to hold Hong Kong authorities accountable, and the need for the Government of Canada to publicly call for the immediate and unconditional release of Jimmy Lai and all political prisoners in Hong Kong.

Ms Leung told the Subcommittee:

“Let me reiterate again that the allegations against Jimmy Lai are unfounded, politically driven, and indicative of a broader pattern of silencing dissent and curtailing freedom of the press in the region.

The Canadian Parliament has shown strong support for Jimmy Lai. At the start of Lai’s trial in December 2023, the House and the Senate both unanimously adopted motions for the Hong Kong authorities to release Jimmy Lai and cease prosecuting him and others charged under the National Security Law. While we strongly welcome these initiatives from Parliament, it is important to note that the Government of Canada has yet to publicly call for his release. 

With that said, I urge the Government of Canada and its Ministers to reflect the will of Parliament and call for the unconditional and immediate release of Jimmy Lai.

I urge the Government of Canada to seriously consider using sanctions, particularly on Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee, as a tool to hold the Government of Hong Kong accountable for its human rights violations, including those against Jimmy Lai. We have a Magnitsky sanctions regime – it is important that we use it.”

The full testimony can be viewed here.

香港監察出席加拿大國會國際人權小組委員會聽證會 就黎智英被關押作證

週二，香港監察加拿大政策顧問Katherine Leung以證人身分出席加拿大眾議院外交及國際發展常務委員會國際人權小組委員會（Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development）聽證會，就黎智英被關押作證。其他證人包括黎智英的兒子黎崇恩、黎智英國際律師團隊領袖、英國御用大律師Caoilfhionn Gallagher，以及對華政策跨國議會聯盟（IPAC）執行總監裴倫德（Luke de Pulford）。

梁作證時扼要析述利用馬格尼茨基制裁向香港當局追究責任的重要性，以及加拿大政府公開呼籲立即無條件釋放黎智英和香港所有政治犯的必要性。

她向小組委員會表示：

「容我再次重申，針對黎智英的指控捕風捉影，乃出於政治動機，顯示香港存在更廣泛壓制異見和限制新聞自由的模式。

加拿大國會已向黎智英表示大力支持。2023年12月黎智英案開審時，參眾兩院一致通過動議，要求香港當局釋放黎智英，並停止起訴他及其他被控《國家安全法》控罪的人。我們強烈歡迎國會提出這些倡議，但要注意的是，加拿大政府尚未公開呼籲釋放他。

有見及此，我促請加拿大政府及內閣部長遵照國會意願，呼籲立即無條件釋放黎智英。

我促請加拿大政府認真考慮利用制裁作為工具，追究香港政府侵犯人權（包括侵犯黎智英人權）的責任，尤其是制裁香港特首李家超。我們有馬格尼茨基制裁制度，重要的是要加以運用。」

請在此處觀看完整聽證會。