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The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong (CFHK) Foundation condemns the British Chamber (BritCham) of Commerce in Hong Kong for its disgraceful decision to invite John Lee, a sanctioned individual under U.S. law, and Chinese Communist Party enforcer Cui Jianchun as keynote speakers at the BritCham Hong Kong 2024 Summit on September 24. BritCham has not only betrayed its principles but turned its back on core British values of democracy and the rule of law.
Meanwhile, British citizen Jimmy Lai, founder of Hong Kong pro-democracy media outlet Apple Daily, has been imprisoned for over 1,300 days on national security law charges. Instead of using its influence to demand Lai’s immediate and unconditional release, BritCham has chosen to cozy up to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), undermining the very freedoms it claims to champion.
The British Chamber of Commerce must be reminded that it represents Britain, but not the interests of the CCP. If it had any respect for British values, it would be demanding Jimmy Lai’s freedom, not giving a stage to the very individuals responsible for his unjust imprisonment.
John Lee speaking at the Britcham Hong Kong Summit 2024
Hong Kong
The former editor-in-chief of the now-defunct pro-democracy news outlet Stand News, Chung Pui-kuen, has been sentenced to 21 months in jail. This follows almost a year spent in pre-trial custody. Chung Pui-kuen were found guilty last month over 11 articles that the court deemed as having “seditious intentions,” which included several commentaries and profiles of Hong Kong pro-democracy activists.
A French photographer, Louise Delmotte, who captured photos of Jimmy Lai in prison for The Associated Press, tried to enter Hong Kong but was denied entry. Earlier this year, officials also denied entry to a German journalist and activist, and a staffer from Reporters Without Borders who was visiting the city to monitor Lai’s trial.
Hong Kong Free Press examined those accused of offences under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, known as Article 23, which came into effect six months ago. Three people have been jailed under the new law. They were convicted for wearing a “seditious” T-shirt; writing anti-government graffiti on a bus seat; and social media posts. All were charged with “seditious intention.”
Canada - Hong Kong
Jimmy Lai been awarded PEN Canada’s One Humanity Award. PEN Canada says Lai’s ongoing detention is “emblematic of the devastating impact the 2020 National Security Law has had on freedom of expression across Hong Kong,” and “his case is illustrative of the government’s willingness to use the legal system to silence dissent.”
The CFHK Foundation applauds this recognition, viewing it as a testament to Lai’s commitment to press freedom and democracy. The award underscores the urgent need for international support and action to secure his release and safeguard the rights of all those unjustly detained under the draconian national security legislation.
U.S. - Hong Kong
Frances Hui, the policy and advocacy coordinator of the CFHK Foundation, spoke at the China Future Forum at the U.S. Capitol on September 24 about her experience in policy advocacy outside Hong Kong. In her remarks, she highlighted three key critical areas that threaten the CCP's power and three strategies to garner support and momentum among the international community to counter the CCP. The three-day conference was organised by Shining Light Media, which aims to promote constitutional democracy in China.
CFHK Foundation's Frances Hui joined Juan Lorenzo Holmann Chamorro, former political prisoner in Nicaragua and publisher of the Nicaraguan newspaper La Prensa, and Quscondy Abdulshafi, a Sudanese activist and the Senior Regional Advisor for Africa at Freedom House, in a panel discussion on September 19 to discuss challenges faced by human rights defenders and how democratic governments can support them. In the discussion "Defending Democracy in Exile," Frances spoke of the nearly 1900 political prisoners in Hong Kong and transnational repression of those living abroad.
UK - Hong Kong
The CFHK Foundation's Public Affairs and Advocacy Manager, Alyssa Fong, launched Labour Friends of Hong Kong at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, UK, this Monday. Five Members of Parliament (MPs) were in attendance. Speeches were given by Christopher Mung, Executive Director of Hong Kong Labour Rights Monitor (and one of the 13 Hong Kongers subject to a HK$1 million bounty promised by the Hong Kong government for his arrest), and James Jennion, Co-Director of Labour Campaign for Human Rights.
Connor Rand MP and Neil Coyle MP, co-chairs of Labour Friends of Hong Kong, also gave speeches affirming their support for Hong Kong. Alyssa Fong said: “I am delighted to launch Labour Friends of Hong Kong here at the Labour Conference. I hope that Labour Friends of Hong Kong will be an opportunity to show Hong Kongers that the Labour government are behind them. I also want to show the Labour Government that Hong Kong issues are still important and that they should be at the forefront of foreign and domestic policy."
Alyssa Fong and Neil Coyle MP, Alyssa Fong and Connor Rand MP
Updates on Jimmy Lai’s Trial
Tatyana Eatwell, a member of Jimmy Lai’s international legal team, participated in a panel discussion at the Labour Party Conference titled “From Detention to Freedom: How the Labour Government Can Support Arbitrarily Detained British Nationals.” The discussion called on the British government to take concrete action to secure Lai’s release from a Hong Kong prison, and to support other arbitrarily detained British nationals abroad.
Lai has been held in solitary confinement for most of the nearly four years he has been detained. His trial on National Security Law charges did not even begin until he had been held for three years and has been characterised by its sluggish pace. Proceedings were expected to be completed this past spring; instead, the defence has not even started to present its evidence. The CFHK Foundation condemns this delay, which clearly illustrates the erosion of the rule of law in Hong Kong.
Detailed trial updates available here: Support Jimmy Lai
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