Hong Kong Watch Briefing on Human Rights Developments: June 2025

This briefing describes developments in Hong Kong in June 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

KEY DEVELOPMENTS

  • Tiananmen Anniversary marked by hunger strike, arrests, and heavy suppression in Hong Kong

  • Joshua Wong hit with fresh national security charge as China fires back at US support

  • Three Hong Kong civil society groups disband in one month

  • Five years on: Hong Kong intensifies crackdown on ‘soft resistance’ under national security framework

JUDICIARY WATCH: RECENT RULINGS AND LEGAL TRENDS

  • Anna Kwok’s father’s national security case adjourned to August

  • Hong Kong artist faces sentencing roller-coaster over “Freedom” graffiti

  • Four activists fined up to HK$6,600 over street fundraising 

  • Dismissed public school teacher challenges sacking over Facebook posts, Hong Kong Government appeals ruling

  • Activist “Captain America 2.0” loses appeal against denial of early prison release

  • Court jails five after quashed 2019 riot acquittals

STATE OF THE RULE OF LAW AND POLICING

  • Police expands high-tech surveillance: Urban drones and monitor CCTV

  • National security hotline received over 920,000 reports in fours years

  • 22-year-old man faces escalating national security charges over social media posts

  • Police warn public over mobile game featuring armed revolution and independence themes

  • Hong Kong police conduct first joint national security operation with Beijing Office

  • Labour Union Laws tightened under Article 23

  • Social worker Jackie Chen stripped of licence for five years after rioting conviction

TRANSFORMING CIVIL SOCIETY & EDUCATION

  • Police probe illustrator’s art fair stall triggering removal

  • Schools must act as “Security Gatekeepers” after principal criticises US consulate visit

DIASPORA & TRANSNATIONAL REPRESSION

  • Radio Free Asia ends Cantonese broadcast 

  • Diasporic Hong Kongers host London exhibition on protest memory and storytelling through objects

  • Canada confirms Hong Kongers can await permanent residence permit abroad

Briefing, NewsRay WongHR