Hong Kong Watch Briefing on Human Rights Developments: November 2023

This briefing describes developments in Hong Kong in November 2023 focusing on the rapid deterioration of human rights in the city following the introduction of the National Security Law.

Click here to read the full briefing.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

POLITICAL PRISONERS: ARRESTS, CHARGES & TRIALS

  • Closing arguments begin in trial of 47 democrats

  • Agnes Chow Ting relocates to Canada, announces refusal to return to Hong Kong 

  • Chow Hang Tung receives Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) Human Rights Award 2023

  • Trial against Stand News editors further postponed

  • Jimmy Lai national security trial to start in December

THE STATE OF THE RULE OF LAW AND POLICING

  • Hong Kong Watch launches groundbreaking report on threats to freedom of religion or belief in Hong Kong

  • European Parliament debates independence of the judiciary and political prisoners in Hong Kong

  • United Nations hosts Universal Periodic Review Pre-Session on China to review human rights in China and Hong Kong

MEDIA FREEDOM IN THE CROSS HAIRS

  • Hong Kong journalist Minnie Chan missing after trip to China

STATE SECURITY AND ECONOMY

  • Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan attends Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit and Xi Jinping meets Joe Biden in San Francisco

  • US House Foreign Affairs Committee marks up Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) Certification Act

  • Hong Kong Watch releases briefing on US firms complicit in withholding Hong Kongers’ Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) savings

  • Main US federal government pension fund will exclude investments from Hong Kong and China

  • Hong Kong Watch publishes briefing on countering foreign interference in industry and technology in Canada

  • Hong Kong Watch releases briefing on Hong Kong Canadians who have experienced transnational repression

  • KPMG and Deloitte ask staff to use burner phones during work trips to Hong Kong

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS

  • Over 190,000 Hong Kongers apply for UK’s British National (Overseas) visa

  • Hong Kong Watch publishes research on how Hong Kongers could swing seats in next UK general election

  • Hong Kong Watch co-organises policy conference in Berlin

Briefing, NewsMegan KhooHR