February 10, 2025 – I am deeply disappointed to learn that today the jury has found Henry Liang Li-tang not guilty on both charges of covertly acting and conspiracy to act as an agent of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on U.S. soil. While I respect the legal process, this outcome is a sobering reminder of the challenges in holding perpetrators of transnational repression accountable in the way our system works when public awareness of the extent of foreign influence is insufficient. Last Monday, I sat in court as a federal witness, facing Liang—a Chinese American who had surveilled and provided intelligence on me and other pro-democracy activists to PRC officials, including those stationed at the Chinese Consulate in New York and the United Front Work Department.
In the summer of 2019, I was a 20-year-old student in Boston who wanted to rally support and solidarity for the pro-democracy movement happening back in my home in Hong Kong. According to the Department of Justice’s indictment, Liang attended and coordinated a counter-protest against events I organized, for which I was stalked, harassed, and received gun threats. His work to expose the identities, activities, and affiliations of pro-democracy activists and Taiwan supporters to the PRC is part of a broader pattern of transnational repression—an ongoing campaign by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to stifle dissent worldwide. Despite the jury’s non-guilty verdict, the evidence presented in court and outlined in the indictment strongly indicates Liang’s close working relationship with the PRC.
This case is only a fraction of the CCP’s global repression efforts. Since the charges were filed, many people from around the world have reached out to me, sharing their own experiences of intimidation, harassment, and surveillance in their communities, and pleading for greater awareness. The fact that a conviction was not secured should not discourage those who face these threats—it should strengthen our resolve to push for better protections, stronger laws, and more accountability—as we have at the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation.
To world governments, first and foremost, acts of transnational repression must be codified in national law as criminal offenses. Second, justice departments need resources to prioritize cases of foreign influence in legal procedures. Third, the U.S. must expand interagency resources to train federal and local law enforcement on identifying and responding to cases of transnational repression. Additionally, governments must take steps to shut down the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices (HKETOs), which have long been instrumental in surveilling dissidents abroad. These offices, operating under the guise of economic diplomacy, serve the interests of the Chinese government and pose a direct threat to overseas Hong Kong communities.
I also urge those affected to continue reporting incidents to law enforcement. Only through close collaboration between authorities and civil society can we take effective action against transnational repression.
Throughout the process of investigation and prosecution, my thoughts remain with my friends and the people of Hong Kong, where fair trials and basic freedoms are no longer guaranteed under an increasingly authoritarian judicial system. I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the law enforcement agencies, investigators, witnesses, community members, journalists, prosecutors, judges, and jurors who played a role in bringing this case forward. While this verdict may not reflect the outcome we had hoped for, their efforts remain invaluable in ensuring the rule of law and exposing the threats of foreign interference on American soil.
Today’s verdict does not absolve the CCP’s relentless efforts to silence those who dare to speak out. Instead, it underscores the urgent need for stronger legal frameworks and international cooperation to counter transnational repression and protect those who stand up for democracy. It is yet another wake-up call that the CCP’s long arm of repression does not stop at its borders. The U.S. and its allies must remain vigilant and act decisively to protect those who continue the fight for freedom and democracy.
Frances Hui 許穎婷
Policy and Advocacy Coordinator, Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation
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