Seven human rights experts affiliated with the U.N. are raising concerns over Hong Kong’s new national security law in a letter addressed to Chinese authorities, saying the legislation limits certain fundamental freedoms.
In this Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, photo, police officers take enter the Apple Daily newspaper headquarters as founder Jimmy Lai is arrested by police officers at his home in Hong Kong. Seven human rights experts affiliated with the U.N. raised concerns over Hong Kong's national security law in a letter addressed to Chinese authorities, saying that the law infringed on certain fundamental rights.
“We underscore that general assertions of conduct that threatens ‘national security’ without proper definitions and limitations may severely curtail civic space, the right to participate in public affairs, the rights of minorities and the work of human rights defenders and other civil society actors and their right to associate,” the human rights experts said in the letter, dated Sept. 1.The experts are independent human rights monitors who work with the U.N.
Critics say the law effectively ends the “one country, two systems” framework under which Hong Kong was promised a high degree of autonomy after it was passed from British to Chinese rule in 1997. “Certain individuals disregard facts and maliciously slander China’s human rights situation, openly politicize human rights issues, and grossly interfere in China’s internal affairs,” spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a regular news conference on Friday.
The sweeping legislation has drawn criticism for stipulating that the destruction of government facilities and utilities will be considered subversive, while damaging public transportation facilities constitutes an act of terrorism.In the 14-page letter, the experts called on China to address U.N. concerns, including the attempt to enforce “extra-territorial jurisdiction,” to ensure that the law complies with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights treaty that China has signed.
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