Today (19 March 2025) marks the first anniversary of the implementation of Article 23 of the Basic Law. Hong Kong Labour Rights Monitor, alongside 19 other Hong Kong organisations in the UK, has joined forces in a collective effort by co-signing a petition initiated by Amnesty International UK. This petition calls on the UK government to take action against the Chinese Communist Party’s transnational repression of the Hong Kong community in the UK.
The petition, supported by a strong coalition of Hong Konger diaspora and advocacy organisations and wanted exiled Hong Kong activists in the UK, states that the Hong Kong government has been using the National Security Law and Article 23 of the Basic Law to intimidate overseas dissenters, issue arrest warrants, restrict their financial transactions, and even detain their family members for “assisting investigations.” These actions violate the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
The petition stresses the need for the UK government to address the issue of transnational repression and to ensure the safety of Hong Kong people in the UK. It calls on the UK government to take concrete action. The petition urges the UK government to: treat transnational repression as a human rights issue, work with civil society to develop a national strategy; use bilateral and multilateral including United Nations mechanisms, to press China and the Hong Kong government to abolish laws that violate international conventions; establish a reporting mechanism and a hotline with translation support; ensure effective investigations into transnational repression and prosecute the crimes; and enhance law enforcement agencies’ understanding and response to transnational repression.