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U.S. Democratic Congressman Jamie Raskin announced he will sponsor Hong Kong political prisoner Jimmy Lai and lead an effort to demand his release through the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission’s Defending Freedoms Project.
“The Chinese Communist Party—like other authoritarian regimes—abuses government power by suppressing and persecuting dissent,” said Rep. Raskin in a press statement. “Jimmy Lai’s detention underscores how the CCP silences critics to exert power over Hong Kong. I’m proud to sponsor Mr. Lai and demand that the CCP immediately release him and stop attacking pro-democracy advocates.”
Jonathan Stivers, U.S. Director for the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong (CFHK) Foundation, said, “His support will ensure that Jimmy Lai’s case will continue to be a priority at the highest levels of the U.S. government and the international community. Hong Kong authorities should release Jimmy Lai and other Hong Kong political prisoners immediately and unconditionally.”
CFHK Foundation and the Hudson Institute will jointly host an event next Monday to launch a new report titled “Beneath the Harbor: Hong Kong’s Leading Role in Sanctions Evasion,” by the CFHK Foundation. The event will feature experts discussing new data showing how the city has emerged as a top sanctions violator, money laundering hub, and transshipment centre that plays a key role in providing Russia dual-use technology for its war effort.
For media enquiries, please contact media@thecfhk.org
Jimmy Lai's Trial Update
Lai’s trial is adjourned until July 24, when his lawyers will argue that the case should be thrown out.
Detailed trial updates available here: Support Jimmy Lai
Hong Kong
The Wall Street Journal fired Hong Kong-based reporter Selina Cheng after she defied the company and was elected as chair of the Hong Kong Journalists Association, a group which has faced increasing pressure from authorities in Hong Kong. Cheng says the company told her that employees at The Wall Street Journal 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.” A spokesperson for Dow Jones, the Journal's parent company, said, "The Wall Street Journal has been and continues to be a fierce and vocal advocate for press freedom in Hong Kong and around the world."
Pro-Beijing lawmakers have proposed training businesspeople, athletes, and artists to defend Hong Kong’s reputation abroad. Members of the city’s legislature said Hong Kong should prepare a “civil force” to rebut criticism from the West over the city’s human rights record.
A 20-year-old Hong Kong man was charged with "unlawful assembly" for participating in a “sing with you” protest four years ago. “Sing with you” was a unique form of peaceful demonstration during the 2019 movement, where people gathered in shopping malls to sing together as a show of solidarity.
U.S. - Hong Kong
U.S. Representative Christopher Smith (R-NJ) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chair and Cochair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), have called for sanctions against Hong Kong officials in response to the erosion of the rule of law and human rights abuses. In a letter addressed to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, they expressed deep concern over the convictions of pro-democracy advocates known as the Hong Kong 47 and urged the use of financial sanctions to hold Hong Kong officials accountable.
The letter concludes by stating, “Imposing sanctions…would send a clear and unmistakable message that the United States stands firmly with the people of Hong Kong in their struggle for democracy and human rights. It would also underscore our commitment to holding accountable those who perpetrate and enable human rights abuses.”
UK - Hong Kong
This week, the House of Commons Library released a research briefing on recent developments in UK-China relations, with a dedicated section to Hong Kong. The CFHK Foundation welcomes the inclusion of a discussion of the situation in Hong Kong, including explanations on the National Security Law, Article 23 legislation, transnational repression, and recent Hong Kong espionage cases. We especially welcome the discussion of the trial of publisher and democracy advocate Jimmy Lai. However, we note an error in the research briefing that implicitly accepts China’s contention that Lai is a dual national. Jimmy Lai is a British citizen only – as the British government recognises – and does not have Chinese citizenship. China’s contention that Lai is Chinese reflects a racial approach to citizenship, one that has no basis in international law.
🔥 'Flame of Freedom' Blog
The Gwyneth Ho Story: a young journalist who quit the BBC to make a stand for Hong Kong
This blog is authored by Howard Zhang, a former BBC reporter and editor for nearly 24 years. He was head of service for BBC News Chinese (2016-2023) during the 2019 Hong Kong movement.
“I am not qualified to comment on the legal aspects of her case. But as an observer, one thing is crystal clear to me: Gwyneth is an idealistic, principled and courageous young person who knows where she stands in life. She made a series of fateful decisions – leaving the BBC, joining Stand News and standing for the “illegal” primary.”
Read More Here.
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