U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) has joined 76 international parliamentarians and public figures in condemning the passage of Article 23 legislation in Hong Kong. The joint statement issued by the group expresses serious concerns about the implications of this new national security legislation on the city’s autonomy and fundamental freedoms.
In the statement, the signatories highlight their worries that the new law will further erode Hong Kong’s autonomy, rule of law, and rights. They emphasize that the legislation’s vague and expansive provisions could criminalize peaceful human rights activities and undermine due process and fair trial rights. The signatories stress that this move violates Hong Kong’s international human rights obligations and jeopardizes its standing as an open international city.
The group calls for the repeal of the 2020 National Security Law imposed by Beijing and urges the Hong Kong government to stop prosecuting individuals charged under this law. They emphasize the importance of ensuring that any restrictions on the rights of the people in Hong Kong for national security reasons are legal, legitimate, and proportional in accordance with international human rights laws and standards.
The signatories assert the need for global solidarity in denouncing these actions, stating, “Governments must unite to say that this flagrant breach of the Basic Law of Hong Kong, the Sino-British Joint Declaration, and international human rights law cannot be tolerated.” They call for upholding the rules-based international order and holding Hong Kong and Beijing officials accountable for their violations.
Among the signatories are various prominent figures from Europe, the European Union, Asia, and North America, including politicians, human rights advocates, and former ambassadors. The statement reflects a unified stance against the infringement of Hong Kong’s autonomy and the erosion of fundamental rights in the region.
