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This week, the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation (CFHK Foundation) and the Congressional Executive Commission on China (CECC) co-hosted the first-ever Hong Kong Symposium in the U.S. Congress. Key speakers included Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ-04), Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA-02), and Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08). Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi said, “One thing must be clear: We stand committed to the Hong Kong people in their pursuit of freedom and autonomy that was once promised to them by the Chinese Communist Party but not delivered. We cannot sit idly by while these injustices continue.”
Representative Mike Gallagher (R-WI-08) sent video remarks to the Hong Kong Symposium, highlighting how the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and Chinese Communist Party display the final copy of Jimmy Lai’s pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily in their offices. A short film featuring six of the eight exiled Hongkongers who have HK$1 million bounties for their arrests was also shown.
The CFHK Foundation met with Senators, Representatives and congressional staffers on Capitol Hill to urge the U.S. government to help free Jimmy Lai and political prisoners in Hong Kong as well as to block Chinese Communist Party interference in the United States.
Hong Kong
The largest pro-Beijing political party in Hong Kong sent 122 candidates to run in the “patriots-only” District Council election to “effectively safeguard national security and social stability".
Derek Chu, former Hong Kong district councillor, was arrested for promoting Mandatory Provident Fund schemes without a valid licence.
Jimmy Lai
Lord David Alton tabled questions regarding why the British government has yet to call for the release of British citizen Jimmy Lai, a 75-year-old symbol of democracy who has been behind bars in Hong Kong for more than 1,000 days.
Attorney Mark Tarrant commissioned a “Jimmy Lai in Chains” neon sign that was displayed in Sydney, Australia’s central business district to mark Jimmy Lai’s 1,000th day in a Hong Kong prison. Silk screen print posters, titled “Jimmy Lai Behind Bars”, were also placed and remain throughout the city.
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