Lord Patten: “Freedom will triumph over communist authoritarianism” on 29th Hong Kong handover anniversary

On 1 July 2026, Hong Kong marks its 29th year since its handover to the People’s Republic of China. Reflecting on the significance of this day, Lord Patten of Barnes, Patron of Hong Kong Watch and the last Governor of Hong Kong, said:

“Until the handover of sovereignty in 1997, Hong Kong was probably one of the best examples in the world of the successful combination of economic and political freedom. The Chinese Communist Party promised in the Joint Declaration to continue this for 50 years. Beijing has broken its word on this, as it has on so many other obligations.

One result is that under the British National (Overseas) passport scheme, so many Hong Kong citizens have come to live in the UK. They make a huge contribution to the country’s wellbeing. When I ask them, for example at meetings of Hong Kong Watch, about leaving Hong Kong, they invariably say that it was a terrible wrench to leave the city but they did so in order to bring their children up in freedom. One day I am sure that freedom will triumph over communist authoritarianism and the city will once again become a model for so many others in Asia.

While marking this unfortunate 29th anniversary of the handover, I hope that one day I may be able to return to Hong Kong, where my family and I were honoured to live so happily for a number of years.”

Today (30 June 2026) is also the sixth anniversary of the imposition of the draconian Hong Kong National Security Law (HKNSL), which has dismantled the rule of law and fundamental rights guaranteed under the Sino-British Joint Declaration and Basic Law in Hong Kong.

Over the past year, the Hong Kong government has only further intensified its systematic crackdown on political opposition and civil society both in Hong Kong and overseas. This includes:

  • the harsh 20-year sentencing of British citizen and pro-democracy newspaper owner Jimmy Lai; 

  • the sentencing of the father of US-based pro-democracy activist Anna Kwok;

  • the introduction of a rule under the HKNSL that criminalises refusal to provide electronic device passwords to Hong Kong police, which applies to any foreigner travelling through Hong Kong;

  • the enactment of subsidiary legislation under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (also known as Article 23) that grants the Chief Executive power to certify any criminal case as a national security matter, further eradicating the independence of the courts; and

  • multiple arrests of commentators, journalists and independent booksellers for national security-related offences.

In response to the HKNSL, the UK government introduced the British National (Overseas) (BNO) visa scheme in 2020 as a pledge to stand by the people of Hong Kong. Earlier this year, the BNO scheme was expanded to adult children of BNO status holders who were under 18 at the time of the 1997 handover. 

However, as many Hong Kongers prepare to settle in the UK, uncertainty still lingers around changes to settlement requirements for BNOs, as well as Hong Kong asylum seekers and refugees. Britain must ensure it lives up to its commitment to Hong Kongers by allowing them to settle and apply for citizenship under the “5+1” route – five years of residence followed by one further year before naturalisation – without new conditions that were never part of the original promise.

Benedict Rogers, Chair of Trustees and co-founder of Hong Kong Watch, said:

“Today is a sombre moment for the people of Hong Kong and all those who support the values of freedom, democracy, and the rule of law worldwide. Twenty-nine years on since the handover, we urge international governments, particularly the UK government, to demand accountability for the actions of Hong Kong officials, including by imposing sanctions, and to match their words with concrete, sustained action in support of the people of Hong Kong.”

香港主權移交29週年暨國安法六週年  彭定康勳爵：「自由終會戰勝共產威權」

2026年7月1日，香港踏入主權移交中華人民共和國29週年。談到這天的意義，香港監察贊助人、最後一任香港總督彭定康勳爵（Lord Patten of Barnes）表示：

「直到1997年主權移交為止，香港堪稱世上成功結合經濟自由與政治自由的絕佳典範之一。中國共產黨在《中英聯合聲明》中承諾五十年不變，但北京違背了這項承諾，就如違背很多其他義務一樣。

其中一個結果是，大量香港人循BNO計劃來到英國生活，對這個國家的福祉作出巨大貢獻。每當我在香港監察聚會等場合上問起離開香港的事時，他們總是說，離開香港固然非常痛苦，但他們這樣做是為了在自由環境中養育子女。我確信終有一日，自由會戰勝共產威權，而香港會再次成為很多其他亞洲城市的榜樣。

紀念這令人遺憾的主權移交29週年之時，我希望有朝一日能重回香港——我和家人有幸在那地過了多年幸福生活。」

今天（2026年6月30日）亦是苛法《國家安全法》在香港實施六年的日子，《國安法》已摧毀《中英聯合聲明》和《基本法》所保障的法治和基本權利。

過去一年，香港政府進一步加強對香港及海外政治反對聲音和公民社會的系統式打壓。當中包括：

  • 英國公民、《蘋果日報》創辦人黎智英被重判20年監禁；

  • 居美社運人士郭鳯儀的父親被判入獄；

  • 修訂《國安法》實施細則，相關人士如拒絕按警方要求提供電子設備密碼，即屬犯罪。這項規定適用於訪港旅客；

  • 訂立《維護國家安全條例》（俗稱「23條」）附屬法例，賦予行政長官權力認定某刑事案件涉及國家安全。這項規例進一步破壞法庭獨立的原則；及

  • 多名評論員、記者和獨立書商因涉嫌危害國家安全而被捕。

因應《國安法》實施，英國政府於2020年推出英國國民（海外）簽證計劃，以示支持香港人。今年初，BNO計劃拓展至1997年主權移交時未滿18歲的BNO身分持有人子女。

不過，正當很多香港人準備申請在英國定居時，BNO、尋求庇護和難民港人仍然面對定居要求變動的不確定因素。英國必須確保履行對香港人的承諾，容許他們循「5+1」入籍途徑申請定居和公民身分，而不得新增原有承諾從未包含的條件。

香港監察信託董事會主席兼共同創辦人羅傑斯（Benedict Rogers）表示：

「今天對香港人以至全球所有支持自由、民主和法治價值的人來說，是沉痛的時刻。踏入香港主權移交29週年，我們促請世界各國政府——特別是英國政府——要求追究香港官員的責任，包括施行制裁，並坐言起行，以具體且持續的行動支持香港人。」

Photo: GovHK

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