Hong Kong Watch Briefing on Human Rights Developments: October 2025

This briefing describes developments in Hong Kong in October 2025 focusing on the rapid deterioration of human rights in the city following the imposition of the National Security Law and the passage of Safeguarding National Security Ordinance.

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Executive Summary

October saw a further tightening of political control and repression in Hong Kong. The trial of Anna Kwok’s father, the first prosecution of a family member of an exiled activist under the national security law, signalled an alarming escalation of “coercion by proxy.”

Preparations for the December LegCo election under Beijing’s “patriots-only” system highlighted deepened Mainlandisation, with, reportedly, nearly a third of declared candidates linked to Chinese firms. Meanwhile, authorities expanded AI surveillance, continued to arrest individuals for peaceful expression, and intensified lawfare against pro-democracy figures.

Cultural censorship persisted, including the banning of 13 films and the cancellation of an LGBTQ+ play. Abroad, UN experts condemned reprisals against exiled lawyer Kevin Yam.

These developments reflect the continuing erosion of rule of law, civil liberties, and international norms in Hong Kong.

香港監察香港人權狀況簡報：2025年10月

香港人權狀況在《國家安全法》實施及《維護國家安全條例》（俗稱23條）通過後急速惡化，這份簡報記錄了2025年10月香港的事態發展。

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摘要

今年10月，香港政治控制和打壓進一步加劇。流亡社運人士郭鳳儀的父親被起訴「23條」下「企圖處理潛逃者財產」罪，成為被通緝海外港人家屬被控違反「23條」的首例。案件本月開審，顯示港府「代理人威逼」（coercion by proxy）的手段升級，情況令人擔憂。

北京「愛國者治港」制度下的立法會換屆選舉將於12月舉行，據稱近三分之一候選人與中國企業有關連，突顯香港愈來愈大陸化的局面。與此同時，當局擴大人工智能監控系統，持續拘捕和平表達意見的人士，並加強以「法律戰」（lawfare）手段打壓民主人士。

文化審查持續收緊，包括自2021年以來有13齣電影因國安理由被禁止上映，以及LGBTQ+舞台劇《我們最快樂》演出被取消。海外方面，聯合國專家譴責流亡律師任建峰被「釘牌」的報復行為。

這些事件反映香港法治、公民自由和國際準則持續受損。

Photo: 17jiangz1, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons