Special Privileges campaign

Given the rapid deterioration of human rights in Hong Kong, Hong Kong Watch is actively part of the discussion of the status of Hong Kong in international fora, raising serious concerns about Hong Kong’s special privileges.

The key discussion points include:

Loss of autonomy: Hong Kong no longer enjoys the high degree of autonomy it once did, with its governance increasingly intertwined with the interests of the Government of the People’s Republic of China.
Security risks: The diplomatic privileges and immunities enjoyed by the 14 Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices (HKETOs) around the world raise substantial security concerns. We are campaigning for international governments and bodies to review the status, privileges, and immunities of the HKETOs, and to propose that maintaining the status of HKETOs depends on Beijing not exercising more control over Hong Kong.
Bilateral investment agreements: We are campaigning for international governments to review their bilateral investment agreements with Hong Kong, such as Canada’s Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (IPPA), to ensure alignment with national security interests, particularly in the light of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance.