‘China has crushed human rights in Hong Kong’

Human rights have deteriorated rapidly in Hong Kong since China clamped down on free speech in the territory.

The Hong Kong garrison conducted a live-fire exercise in the Tsing Shan firing range. Picture: Weibo

Human rights have deteriorated rapidly in Hong Kong since China clamped down on free speech in the territory, according to a US commission.

The national security law introduced by Beijing in June has led to arrests, sackings and censorship, the congressional-executive commission on China, an agency that monitors human rights, said in a report.

It cited the arrests of Tony Chung, a young activist who supports independence for Hong Kong, and Jimmy Lai, a publishing tycoon, as proof of the decline. It also highlighted the postponement of parliamentary elections; the removal from library shelves of books by activists such as Joshua Wong; the revision of textbooks and the firing of Benny Tai, a University of Hong Kong law professor.

The Hong Kong government rejected the report and said it was “totally biased”. The Chinese military stoked further unease by sharing a video showing armoured vehicles rolling down the streets. The People’s Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison posted a clip on its social media account of a live-fire drill in Tsing Shan, complete with footage of military vehicles driving down local roads at night.

While it is not uncommon for the troops to have drills, it is rare for the garrison to publicise scenes of military vehicles in city streets. The garrison, which had previously kept a low profile, has become more visible in the past year — apparently to assert the sovereignty of Beijing over the former British colony and send warnings to potential troublemakers.

“The training is aimed at integrating skills, laying a solid foundation in tactics, strengthening live shooting and improving ­actionability,” the garrison wrote, adding that the drill had a “strong combative atmosphere”.

The footage was published hours after the Hong Kong government issued a midnight statement rebutting the US report detailing human rights violations since the security law was imposed in an attempt to end a year of unrest in the territory.

The law bans acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces, all of which are punishable by life ­imprisonment. Two people have been charged under the rules, including Mr Chung. The US commission claimed that the law had also served to suppress protests, curb academic freedoms and crack down on the press.

“As written, the law contains vaguely defined offences that are inconsistent with the principle of legal certainty,” the report said. “As applied, the law has enabled the Hong Kong government to arrest political dissidents, assert jurisdiction over overseas activities, and directly or indirectly regulate political speech and activities.”

The report added the Hong Kong government arrested protesters on July 1, hours after the law came into effect, despite the rules not being fully understood.

In a statement, the government expressed “strong indignation at and opposition to the totally biased analysis”. It accused the US agency of smearing the national security law and warned against any foreign intervention.

It defended the law as within the purview of Beijing, even though it was approved without meaningful discussions in Hong Kong or public input. “Every country has laws and a duty to safeguard its national security and sovereignty,” it said. “The international community should not adopt a double standard.”

The Times