A report by a Hong Kong human rights group indicates that the human rights situation in Hong Kong has continued to deteriorate since the implementation of the twin national security laws. In particular, following the implementation of Article 23 of the Basic Law, the group called on international attention to the Hong Kong government's expansion of surveillance and repression overseas in the name of national security. Both human rights groups and the imprisoned former vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, Chow Hsing-tung, have criticized Article 23 for expanding powers, allowing the Hong Kong Chief Executive to interfere in the judiciary and further curtailing Chow's right to select books.
The Hong Kong Human Rights Information Centre released its latest Hong Kong Human Rights Report on Monday (April 28), stating that the Hong Kong government, citing "security concerns," has refused to disclose its enforcement of the National Security Ordinance (also known as Article 23 of the Basic Law) since its passage. However, the report, which compiled data from the implementation of Article 23, found that within nine months of its implementation, at least 16 people were arrested, four prosecuted, and another 13 were wanted. Three cases of speech-related crimes were also sentenced, with sentences ranging from 10 to 14 months. The report also pointed out that the passage of Article 23 of the Basic Law, which empowers the Hong Kong Chief Executive to issue certificates in national security cases and requires courts to comply with the decisions of these certificates when hearing cases, is an interference with judicial independence and an infringement of fair trial and the rule of law.
Human rights groups say the Hong Kong government added 2,000 cameras last year to enhance surveillance using AI.
The Hong Kong Human Rights Information Centre stated that after the passage of Article 23, the Hong Kong government expanded the application of national security-related laws to government procurement and the leasing of government venues. This enhanced censorship through administrative means constitutes an over-securitisation of civil society, fostering self-censorship and silencing across all sectors of society. The report noted that the Hong Kong government added 2,000 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras across Hong Kong last year, intentionally using artificial intelligence and facial recognition technology to strengthen physical and online surveillance. These examples demonstrate the continued deterioration of human rights in Hong Kong.
The report notes that the continued revelations of cases, such as the UK's earlier revelation that the Hong Kong government used its London Economic and Trade Office to conduct intelligence infiltration operations and stalk and harass advocates in the UK, indicate that the Hong Kong government is intensifying its use of cross-border repression. The repression of human rights in Hong Kong has become institutionalized and transnational, impacting not only Hong Kong and its people but also posing a serious challenge to the international community. The report calls on all countries to support the Hong Kong people who are still protesting and to prevent the further global expansion and normalization of authoritarianism in the name of national security.
Zou Xingtong criticized Article 23 for empowering the Chief Executive to interfere with the judiciary and use public power to set criteria for banning books.
In addition, Zou Xingtong, the former vice-chairperson of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, who is currently in prison, issued a statement in prison on Saturday (April 26), expressing her dissatisfaction with the Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee's issuance of a certificate on the grounds of national security, refusing to allow her to borrow four books, including "The People Will Not Forget", "Brother", "The River Flows East: Memoirs of Szeto Wah" and "Words of the Bell Ringer: Memoirs of Rev. Chu Yiu-ming", in prison.
Zou Xingtong questioned whether Lee had read the contents of the four books before issuing the relevant certificates. She criticized Article 23 for granting the Chief Executive such powers as an overbearing clause, saying the courts would have to accept the Chief Executive's claim that the sun rises in the west. She also argued that the Chief Executive's use of public power to dictate the authority and criteria for banning books, citing national security as a pretext, set a bad precedent.
She said that due to the existing system, it would be difficult to succeed in filing a judicial review challenging the Chief Executive's ability to use a certificate to bind the court. She apologized for withdrawing the judicial review, but not challenging the matter legally did not mean silencing her. She hoped to expose the incident and suggested that someone outside the prison could establish a banned books database to investigate and record the names of banned books and the reasons for them.
