ChinaAid aligns with 34 other groups and organizations to condemn the arrests of more than 50 pro-democracy HongKongers

On the morning of January 6, over 1,000 Hong Kong police and security officers arrested 53 people, including every candidate currently in the city who participated in an informal primary to determine which pro-democracy figures would run for office in the next Hong Kong legislative elections. Over 600,000 people voted in this informal primary. Those arrested include former legislators, political campaigners, students, and lawyers. They have been accused of “subverting state power,” under the territory’s draconian new National Security Law, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Police also froze bank accounts, searched private premises, and ordered four media companies to hand over materials. 

This is a wholesale attack on democracy in Hong Kong, and a criminalization of freedom of expression, freedom of opinion, and freedom of association. We condemn these arrests in the strongest possible terms, and we stand in solidarity with those who have been arrested for exercising their rights under both international law and the Basic Law of Hong Kong. We call upon the Hong Kong authorities to publicly commit that they will not pursue charges against those arrested. 

Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, previously assured HongKongers that the National Security Law would be used against only a small group of “criminal elements” and would not affect the lives of regular HongKongers. This week’s events make abundantly clear that this assurance was not true. Instead, the law is being used as a tool to crush any efforts to maintain democratic norms in Hong Kong. These arrests clearly highlight that the National Security Law and its implementation violate international guarantees of human rights. 

Seeking to peacefully participate in the democratic process is not a crime. We call upon the Beijing government to withdraw or review and reform the National Security Law to ensure compliance with international human rights standards, and to recommit itself to respecting its people’s rights to peacefully express themselves and to politically organize. 

Hong Kong has a proud tradition of a strong, engaged civil society and independent courts. This tradition is being destroyed before the eyes of the world. The international community must loudly and consistently condemn this repression as unacceptable and outrageous. These condemnations must also be followed by concrete steps to make clear to the Beijing government that these abuses will not be without consequences in terms of China’s international standing and relationships.

Signed, in alphabetical order:

1. Association Lions des Neiges Mont-Blanc 
2. Campaign For Uyghurs
3. ChinaAid
4. China Against the Death Penalty
5. Chinese Human Rights Defenders
6. Christian Solidarity Worldwide 
7. Dialogue China 
8. ECOTibet Ireland
9. Freedom House
10. Grupo de Apoio ao Tibete-Portugal
11. Hong Kong Watch 
12. Hong Kong Committee in Norway
13. Hong Kong Democracy Council
14. Humanitarian China 
15. Human Rights in China
16. Human Rights First
17. Human Rights Watch 
18. International Campaign for Tibet
19. International Service for Human Rights 
20. International Tibet Network Secretariat
21. LUNGTA – Actief voor Tibet
22. Norsk Taiwansk Vennskapsforening
23. PEN America
24. Santa Barbara Friends of Tibet
25. Save Tibet, Austria
26. Stand With Hong Kong Vienna
27. Students For a Free Tibet
28. Students For a Free Tibet-India
29. The Norwegian Tibet Committee
30. Tibetan Community In Britain
31. Tibet Initiative Deutschland
32. Tibet Support Group Ireland
33. Uyghur Human Rights Project
34. Visual Artists Guild
35. World Uyghur Congress