Hong Kong Watch Briefing on Human Rights Developments: November 2025

This briefing describes developments in Hong Kong in November 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.

Click here to read the full briefing.

Executive Summary

November saw intensified repression of civil rights and freedoms in Hong Kong. The deadly Wang Fuk Court fire, which killed at least 159 residents, was followed not by transparency but by arrests of a student petitioner, a former district councillor, volunteers, and commentator. Authorities warned the media against “distorted” reporting, signalling that calls for accountability are now treated as national security threats.

Ahead of the “patriots only” LegCo election, police arrested at least 29 people for alleged “sabotage” of the election, while turnout fell to just 31.9%, showing deep public disengagement. Courts continued to hand down national security and sedition convictions, reinforcing a system with little room for dissent.

Civil society faced growing censorship: Pride events were obstructed, LGBTQ merchandise was banned, and a film faced months-long approval delays. Abroad, the PRC pressurised a British university to halt research on forced labour in East Turkestan (aka Xinjiang).

香港監察香港人權狀況簡報：2025年11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11月香港的事態發展。

請按此處閱讀簡報全文。

摘要

今年11月，香港當局對公民權利和自由的打壓加劇。大埔宏福苑火災奪走至少159人的生命，事後當局非但沒有承諾公開透明調查，反而拘捕發起聯署的學生、前區議員、義工和評論員。當局警告外國傳媒不要「歪曲」報導，顯示呼籲問責現被視為國家安全威脅。

「愛國者治港」立法會換屆選舉舉行前，警方拘捕至少29人，稱其涉嫌「破壞」選舉。今屆選舉投票率僅得31.9%，顯示公眾參與度極低。法庭繼續宣判多人干犯危害國家安全罪和煽動罪，加強不容異議的體制。

公民社會面對愈來愈多審查：香港同志遊行籌委會戶外活動被迫取消、LGBTQ商品被禁售、周冠威執導新戲送檢多月後仍未獲批上映。海外方面，中國向一間英國大學施壓，要求停止對東突厥斯坦（又稱新疆）強迫勞動的研究。

Photo: LN9267, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons