Civil rights groups warn UN body that Hong Kong national security law limits ability to highlight fears about freedom in the city overseas
- A total of 19 of 22 submissions to UN human rights committee on Hong Kong national security law come from overseas NGOs
- Just two NGO staff, both now living outside Hong Kong, attend Geneva UN meeting in person compared to at least 12 nine years ago
Civil rights campaigners warned on Tuesday that Hong Kong’s national security law had damaged their ability to raise concerns on the international stage as the United Nations’ human rights committee wrapped up a three-day review of the situation in the city by grilling officials over freedom of expression and assembly.
A total of 19 of the 22 submissions to the committee warned of the erosion of human rights in Hong Kong since the law came into force and were filed by NGOs based elsewhere.
The other three, submitted by Hong Kong-based legal groups, suggested the national security law was in line with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, an international treaty which is being examined at the UN’s review session.
Just two NGO representatives, both no longer based in Hong Kong, attended the proceedings in person in Geneva, compared to at least a dozen at the last review in 2013.
One Hong Kong-based NGO staff member, who asked not to be named, said that even though attending the review might not fall under the scope of the national security law, NGOs and their partners could still face a backlash from Chinese state media.
UN representatives had already taken the unusual step of asking Hong Kong officials on the first and second days for assurances that NGOs who made a submission on the national security law would not be prosecuted.
