A roundup of human rights issues in Hong Kong. Includes updates on the trial of Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai, the blocking of activists’ pensions outside of Hong Kong and the journalist fired for ‘advocating for press freedom in a place like Hong Kong’
Jimmy Lai National Security Trial Delayed Again
On July 25, the Hong Kong court presiding over the national security case against Jimmy Lai (黎智英) adjourned the trial for four months, leading to expressions of concern about the length of the process itself. The trial began December 18 last year, having originally been scheduled for 2022, and has already run beyond an estimated duration of 80 days. “Justice delayed is justice denied,” one Hong Kong human rights lawyer told The Times.
Lai is the founder of pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily. He has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and conspiracy to publish seditious material — both charges relating to the 2020 National Security Law. Lai was first arrested in August 2020, and has been imprisoned in a maximum security prison since December of the same year. He has already been convicted of participating in an illegal assembly and fraud, for violating a lease contract. For the latter conviction, he is currently serving a prison sentence of five years and nine months.
Hong Kong ‘Co-Opted by Autocrats’
Hong Kong’s status as a global financial center has been “co-opted by autocrats,” according to a new report by campaign group the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation. The report says Hong Kong now plays a “central role” in facilitating the” transfer of money and restricted technology” to Russia, Iran, and North Korea, countries subject to sanctions by the U.S. and others.
Notably, the report also states that “deliberate” government policy of not enforcing sanctions acts as “encouragement” to smugglers looking to enter Western markets. “Once in Hong Kong, goods can be shipped with no questions asked to countries and companies under Western sanctions and trade controls,” it said. Last week, Ukraine’s foreign minister explicitly asked the Hong Kong administration to “take measures to prevent Russia and Russian companies from using Hong Kong to circumvent the restrictive measures imposed for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.”
Activists’ Pensions Blocked
Two pro-democracy activists have told The Guardian that their access to Hong Kong pensions worth tens of thousands of U.S. dollars have been blocked. Ted Hui (許智峯) and one other activist who preferred to remain anonymous are now living in exile in Australia. The pensions are held by Manulife, a Canadian financial services firm, and HSBC, a British bank.
Last year, a report from The Welcoming Committee for British Hong Kongers found difficulties accessing pensions is a source of financial stress for more than one in four Hong Kongers who have moved to the U.K. In an interview with Domino Theory, Heather Rolfe, co-author of that report, said the British government should be pursuing the issue.
Journalist Fired From Wall Street Journal
Two weeks ago, a journalist working in Hong Kong was fired by the Wall Street Journal after allegedly being told she “should not be seen as advocating for press freedom in a place like Hong Kong even though they can in Western countries, where it is already established.” Selina Cheng was fired by the Wall Street Journal on July 17, just weeks after becoming chair of the Hong Kong Journalists Association.
Cheng has said the official explanation for her firing was “restructuring,” but she was warned by an editor not to run for the position of chair of the union, and was the only person laid off.
U.S. House Select Committee Calls for Sanctions
Lawmakers from the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party have called for 28 Hong Kong officials to face sanctions in response to the passage of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO), passed on March 23 this year. The legislation is seen as an extension of the 2020 National Security Law which sparked protests across Hong Kong.
“Judicial independence over matters of national security is no more, as the SNSO clearly empowers the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the [Hong Kong Special Administrative Region] Government, instead of the courts, to have full and final decision to define national security, national secrets, espionage and other incriminating elements in specific cases,” explained Sang Pu (桑普), president of the Taiwan Hong Kong Association.
Activist Joshua Wong Asks for Leniency
High profile pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong (黃之鋒) has asked for leniency for being involved in organizing a poll to decide candidates for a 2020 legislative election. In his ongoing trial, Wong has pleaded guilty, but his lawyers have asked for his sentence to be reduced by a third, arguing that he was not an organizer, only an active participant in the polling. Organizers can receive up to a lifetime sentence, whereas active participants can only receive a maximum of ten years.
The charge comes under the 2020 National Security Law. Wong has already served over a year in prison for other convictions relating to Hong Kong pro-democracy protests.
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