UK government urged to sanction six Hong Kong officials in response to passage of Article 23 and increasing transnational repression
Today, Hong Kong Watch has published a briefing titled, The Sanctions List: Why the UK Must Sanction Hong Kong Officials in the Aftermath of Article 23. The briefing urges the UK government to sanction six Hong Kong officials in response to the recent enactment of the Safeguarding National Security Bill, known as ‘Article 23 legislation’, and increasing transnational repression by the Chinese Communist Party in the UK.
The briefing provides evidence for the UK government to impose sanctions on Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok, Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung, Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, and Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan. These sanctions may include asset freezes and travel bans, and could be imposed under the UK government’s Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations, the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2018 (the Sanctions Act), or via a bespoke scheme specific to Hong Kong under the Sanctions Act.
The briefing provides a legal basis for Hong Kong Watch’s sanctions list in the UK. Evidence presented includes the Hong Kong officials’ ongoing breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration, a legally-binding and active treaty lodged at the United Nations that requires the UK to guarantee the autonomy and the rights of the people of Hong Kong. The officials have also played leading roles in developing and enacting the Safeguarding National Security Bill and National Security Law, authorising the unlawful use of force and other police misconduct, ordering solitary confinement for those carrying out perfectly acceptable activities under international law, arresting innocent children, and permitting disturbing sexual and physical abuses at Hong Kong juvenile offender facilities.
Sanctioning the officials named in this briefing will provide accountability for past and current violations of rights guaranteed under Hong Kong’s Basic Law and international law, deter further violations, and promote respect for democracy and the rule of law by demonstrating the consequences of undermining these fundamental concepts. Sanctions against these officials would also fulfil Britain’s special responsibility to Hong Kong following the handover of 1997, and affirm the UK’s core values including the rule of law, democracy and individual liberties and human rights.
The briefing follows Hong Kong Watch submitting a formal sanctions submission to the British Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) in January 2023 outlining the evidence against Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee which satisfies the requirements under the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations for a foreign official to be the subject of targeted sanctions.
Benedict Rogers, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong Watch, said:
“The UK government imposing sanctions on Hong Kong officials would send a strong and needed message to the international community that Article 23 legislation is a severe infringement of Hong Kong’s obligations under international human rights law. This is a key opportunity, especially in response to the latest developments of increasing transnational repression by the Chinese Communist Party in the UK, for the UK government to take action and make its values known.
Specifically, sanctions on Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee are long overdue following his lead role in the development of Article 23 legislation and ongoing enactment of the National Security Law, which continue to result in the dismantling of the rule of law, democracy and autonomy of Hong Kong. We urge the UK government to swiftly implement sanctions on these Hong Kong officials to hold them to account for their blatant disregard of the Joint Declaration and other international laws and standards that the UK holds dear.”
香港監察簡報促英政府因應23條通過及跨國鎮壓加劇制裁六名港官
今天，香港監察發表題為《制裁名單：為何英國須在23條立法後制裁香港官員》（The Sanctions List: Why the UK Must Sanction Hong Kong Officials in the Aftermath of Article 23）的簡報。簡報促請英國政府因應最近《維護國家安全條例》（俗稱23條）生效，以及中國共產黨在英國的跨國鎮壓加劇，制裁六名香港官員。
簡報提出英國政府制裁香港行政長官李家超、律政司司長林定國、保安局局長鄧炳強、政務司司長陳國基、政制及內地事務局局長曾國衞和公務員事務局局長楊何蓓茵的理據。制裁方式可包括資產凍結和旅遊禁令，並可根據英國政府的《2020年全球人權制裁條例》（Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations 2020）、《2018年制裁及反洗錢法》（Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018，簡稱《制裁法》）實施，或透過《制裁法》下專門針對香港而設的計劃實施。
這份簡報跟進2023年1月香港監察向英國外交、聯邦及發展事務部提交的正式制裁建議書。建議書概述制裁香港特首李家超的理據，有關理據符合根據《全球人權制裁條例》點名制裁外國官員的要求。
香港監察共同創辦人兼行政總監羅傑斯（Benedict Rogers）表示：
「英國政府制裁香港官員會向國際社會傳遞強烈且必要的訊息：23條立法嚴重違反香港在國際人權法下的義務。這是英國政府採取行動並宣揚價值的重要機會，特別是因應中共在英國跨國鎮壓加劇的最新事態發展。
確切而言，英國政府早就應該制裁香港特首李家超，因他帶領制訂23條並持續實施《國安法》，繼續令香港法治、民主和自治遭受摧毀。我們促請英國政府迅速對這些香港官員施行制裁，就他們公然漠視《中英聯合聲明》和其他英國所珍視的國際法律及準則追究責任。」