Amnesty International has announced the relaunch of its Hong Kong operations “in exile,” more than three years after shuttering its physical offices in the city due to the increasingly restrictive environment under the sweeping national security legislation, Al Jazeera reports.
The new entity, dubbed Amnesty International Hong Kong Overseas (AIHKO), will be spearheaded by Hong Kong activists operating from various countries including Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The move comes as the Chinese government has significantly tightened its control over Hong Kong following the massive pro-democracy protests of 2019, cracking down on political dissent and silencing voices critical of Beijing. Scores of activists, political figures, and journalists have been arrested, imprisoned, or forced to flee the territory.
Amnesty International closed its Hong Kong offices in 2021, citing that the national security law had “made it effectively impossible” for human rights organizations to operate freely.
Registered in Switzerland, AIHKO’s executive director Chi-man Luk described the launch as “a new chapter” in Amnesty’s “commitment to human rights in Hong Kong” and its dedication to supporting the Hong Kong diaspora.
The controversial national security law, enacted in 2020, criminalizes acts of subversion, collusion with foreign forces, terrorism, and secession, carrying sentences of up to life in prison. Chinese and Hong Kong authorities maintain that the law has restored stability to the territory following the 2019 unrest and balances security with safeguarding the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents.
However, critics argue the law has been used to suppress dissent and curtail fundamental freedoms.
Amnesty International’s Secretary-General Agnes Callamard underscored the organization’s determination, stating that the new section demonstrates “our commitment to defending human rights no matter the challenges we face.”
Former Hong Kong lawmaker Fernando Cheung, now a board member of AIHKO, highlighted the organization’s priorities, which include raising awareness of “prisoners of conscience” and combating transnational repression.
According to recent figures, Hong Kong authorities have arrested 322 individuals and convicted 163 under security laws, including the national security law imposed by Beijing and a locally enacted security law passed last year. Police have also issued bounties for 19 overseas pro-democracy activists.
The political landscape in Hong Kong continues to shift dramatically. Just this past Sunday, members of the Democratic Party, once the city’s leading opposition force, voted to dissolve the party, further signaling the erosion of political pluralism in the region.
The latest news in your social feeds
Subscribe to our social media platforms to stay tuned