Hong Kong Freedoms Under Attack
Hong Kong Freedoms Under Attack
Continuing anti-democratic crackdowns in Hong Kong are alarming many in the west.
By Nicholas Waithaka and D. S. Mitchell
A Little History
On July 1, 1997 the UK transferred sovereignty over Hong Kong to the People’s Republic of China. Hong Kong is now a Special Administrative Region of the PRC. At the time of the transfer, Chinese officials promised to preserve as much of Hong Kong’s unique attributes as possible. In fact, a 50-year autonomous stretch was declared. During the autonomous period Hong Kong was to keep its capitalist structures and its western freedoms. The plan was to integrate Hong Kong with motherland China while preserving the political and economic systems that had developed under the British.
The 1984 Declaration
The Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984 outlined the territory’s “one country, two systems” future. That principle is enshrined in a document called the Basic Law – in effect, Hong Kong’s mini constitution. Although the Chinese central government does not have power over Hong Kong per say; the central government does have the authority to interpret the basic laws. According to the terms of Hong Kong’s constitution (it’s basic law), the autonomous period is to last until 2047. From recent events 50 years is apparently longer than Beijing intends to wait.
National Security Law
In recent years, Beijing has begun interfering in Hong Kong’s political governance, notably cracking down on any form of dissent; peaceful or not. Such central government actions fueled massive protests in Hong Kong between 2019-2021. In 2020, Beijing passed a controversial national security law and arrested dozens of pro-democracy activists and lawmakers. It is becoming clear that Beijing is intent on eroding the long-held freedoms of Hong Kong citizens.
Intent Is Clear
There is no doubt about the intentions of the central government as they constrict freedoms in Hong Kong. Technically Hong Kong still operates as a democratic territory, but those freedoms are under daily assault. The new national security law sets broad definitions for crimes against the state, detailing terrorism, subversion, and collaboration with foreign authorities. The NSL permitted the central government to set up an armed security force in Hong Kong. Furthermore, it allowed for the accused dissidents to be removed from Hong Kong and transported to China proper where they were tried in front of central government judges in far away cities like Beijing.
Covid-19 And Political Scapegoats Divide And Conquer
It appears the Chinese government, in a heinous move, used the chaos surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 to mask sweeping Hong Kong crack downs. The 2020 legislative elections were postponed due to health risks, but Beijing was quickly disqualifying pro-democracy candidates from running. Police began arresting pro-democracy activists. Following a move by the Chinese government to bar legislative council members from recognizing Hong Kong’s independence, 15 pro-democracy members of the Hong Kong legislative council resigned in November 2020. So while the world hunkered down, the Chinese central authority went to work reshaping and restructuring the social and political systems in Hong Kong.
Disbanded And Transformed
Without competition the pro-Beijing candidates won overwhelmingly when the elections were finally held in late 2021. For the first time, since 1997 the Democratic Party did not have any candidates running for office. Apparently the central government had been effective in their candidate purging and blacklisting. During this same time period, trade unions, newspapers, and other pro-democracy organizations were disbanded. High profile arrests of democratic activists became common. The Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF) an organization that supported pan-democratic camps in Hong Kong was disbanded in 2021, after a police ‘investigation’ authorized under the new National Security law. The Beijing government has also moved forward in its effort to transform the public education system through emphasis on Chinese patriotic programs.
Incarcerations
Despite the sweeping Chinese police and military occupation, some continued to resist. Leo Tang, the former Vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions, was incarcerated for two months following the 2019 protests. Imprisonment did not tamper his passion and he declared that he was ready to be imprisoned again. Chow Hang Tung, attorney, activist, and vice-chairperson behind the annual Tiananmen Square Vigil, was also arrested. She was charged with failure to provide membership and funding details of the organization. She too expressed defiance toward the Beijing authorities, “they can do whatever they want to me.”
International Response To Hong Kong Violence
Following the passage of the National security law, there was an outcry from the international community. Twenty-seven countries, including France, Germany, Britain, and Japan, gave a joint statement expressing deep and growing concerns over the new law and the central government’s changing approach to the former British colony. The nations urged both the Chinese and Hong Kong governments to reconsider the legislation and it’s negative impact on the population. Amnesty International has closed their Hong Kong offices in response to the recent crackdowns. Unfortunately, the world community has not put any real pressure or sanctions on China.
Nathan Law and Ted Hui
President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson have offered ‘a safe haven’ for Hong Kong residents fleeing the increasingly repressive authoritarianism. Overseas activism, about the only remaining tactic, has increased. Activists such as Nathan Law and Ted Hui are drawing attention to the Hong Kong crack downs. Based in London, the two are lobbying western governments to implement approaches that have more teeth to deter the Chinese authoritarian repression.
The World Turns Away
The extent of their success is still unclear as the Hong Kong crack downs prevail, and the world is adjusting to the new normal. The virus is still taking its toll, with new variants emerging like Omicron. Social repression caused by the National security law may feel like a lesser political priority for other governments than the COVID-19 pandemic. A strong response by the international community is possible in the future, but that will be dependent on how well the lobbying from overseas is done, and how loud any new protests. It will not be easy, considering the Chinese government has already dug in with the currently loyal Hong Kong legislative and the worn-down executive.
References:
James Pomfret. 2021. Amnesty to shut Hong Kong offices given national security law risks. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/amnesty-shut-hong-kong-offices-given-national-security-law-risks-2021-10-25/
Jose, Wong., Chloe, Lo. 2021. Hong Kong’s Pro-Democracy Activists Are Running Out of Options https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-12-16/china-s-communist-party-crackdowns-leave-hong-kong-protesters-with-few-tactics
Lindsay, Maizland., Eleanor, Albert. 2021. Hong Kong’s Freedoms: What China Promised and How It’s Cracking Down. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/hong-kong-freedoms-democracy-protests-china-crackdown#chapter-title-0-3