Amnesty International has announced the launch of a new Hong Kong section based overseas, following the closure of its offices in the city in 2021 amid a crackdown on human rights.
The new entity, Amnesty International Hong Kong Overseas (AIHKO), will be led by Hong Kong diaspora activists operating from key international hubs including Australia, Canada, Taiwan, the UK and the USA.
“The opening of Amnesty International Hong Kong Overseas marks a new chapter in the organization’s strengthened commitment to human rights in Hong Kong and its support for the Hong Kong diaspora around the world,” said Chi-man Luk, the new AIHKO Executive Director.
“The gutting of Hong Kong’s civil society has been a tragedy for the city with more than 100 non-profits and media outlets shut down or forced to flee. But since the closing of Amnesty International Hong Kong three years ago, our dedication has only grown. We are now ready to intensify our efforts by building new communities of support driven by the Hong Kong diaspora.”
Hong Kong’s human rights crisis
Since the 2019 pro-democracy movement, more than 10,000 people, many of them students, have been arrested for protest-related activities. Over 300 people have been arrested for alleged acts of “endangering national security”.
Prominent activists, including lawyer Chow Hang-tung and media advocate Jimmy Lai, face lengthy prison sentences for their peaceful advocacy. Both have been designated as “prisoners of conscience” by Amnesty International.
Hong Kong authorities have weaponized colonial-era sedition laws and introduced new repressive bills, creating an arsenal of tools against all forms of dissent, and even targeting overseas critics by issuing bounties and revoking passports.
Joey Siu, AIHKO board member and one of 19 Hong Kong activists with police bounties placed on them, said: “The threats have only made us stronger. They serve as a reminder that freedom is denied, even to those who have left Hong Kong. To truly be free from repression, we must continue to fight for human rights beyond our borders. We will do so on behalf of Hong Kongers, both in Hong Kong and across the world.”
Amnesty’s first section to operate wholly ‘in exile’
AIHKO is Amnesty International’s first-ever section founded and operated entirely “in exile”, and follows the exodus of hundreds of thousands of Hongkongers who have gone abroad in search of safety and freedom.
“Being overseas provides us with a degree of protection, allowing us to speak more freely and engage in advocacy work. We have a responsibility to do more to support those who remain in Hong Kong and continue their vital efforts,” said Fernando Cheung, AIHKO board member and former Hong Kong legislator.
AIHKO joins an increasing number of civil society organizations focused on Hong Kong issues that have established operations outside the city due to the shrinking space for civil society and freedom of expression in Hong Kong.
AIHKO, which is officially registered in Switzerland, will focus on advocating for human rights of Hongkongers, within Hong Kong and abroad, amplifying their voices and fostering a strong diaspora community globally.
“Amnesty’s Hong Kong Overseas office demonstrates the resilience of our movement, our determination never to be silenced, and our commitment to defending human rights no matter the challenges we face. This new section, and the model behind it, will play a crucial role in our struggle against authoritarian threats, in Hong Kong and beyond,” said Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International.
Background
Amnesty International’s local ‘section’ office ceased operations on 31 October 2021, while the regional office – which is part of Amnesty’s International Secretariat – moved its operations to the organization’s other offices in the Asia-Pacific and Europe.
Amnesty International considers a prisoner of conscience to be any person imprisoned solely because of their beliefs, identity or other status, and who has not used violence or advocated violence or hatred in the circumstances leading to their detention.
Header image: Protesters are seen holding up umbrellas during a march in Hong Kong on September 15, 2019. Photo by Vernon Yuen/NurPhoto via Getty Images.
