Hong Kong Watch Briefing on Human Rights Developments: April 2024

This briefing describes developments in Hong Kong in April 2024 focusing on the rapid deterioration of human rights in the city following the introduction of the National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Bill.

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

POLITICAL PRISONERS: ARRESTS, CHARGES & TRIALS

  • Andy Li, who faced alleged torture, and Chan Tsz-Wah testify in the trial of Jimmy Lai

  • First European national convicted under Hong Kong’s National Security Law

  • Cardinal Zen and 4 other former 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund trustees to appeal conviction over 2019 relief fund

  • Hong Kong judge says Chow Hang-tung’s national security trial will not begin this year

  • Stand News sedition trial verdict postponed again to August

  • Hong Kong student jailed over alleged money laundering linked to 2019 protest fund

  • Young Hong Kong activists open up about abuse in Hong Kong prisons

THE STATE OF THE RULE OF LAW AND POLICING

  • Taipei-based human rights defender and Polish national deported from Hong Kong upon arrival

  • UK releases six-monthly report reviewing the state of the rule of law in Hong Kong

STATE SECURITY AND ECONOMY

  • 6.1% of Hong Kong doctors left positions at public hospitals last year

  • European Parliament adopts urgency resolution on Hong Kong, passes law to ban forced labour products from EU market

  • Hong Kong Watch releases updated Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office briefing

  • US passes law mandating ByteDance to sell TikTok in US, EU requires TikTok to provide risk assessment

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS

  • UK Indo-Pacific Minister visits China, Deputy Prime Minister gives speech on economic security

  • Hong Kong civil society organisations from across the EU urge Chancellor Scholz to raise concerns about Article 23 legislation in Hong Kong during Beijing visit

  • 46 civil society organisations urge US Secretary Blinken to raise human rights concerns during China visit

  • Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada confirms priority processing remains in place for Hong Kong Pathway applicants

Briefing, NewsMegan KhooHR