A cross-party international coalition of 47 parliamentarians and public figures issued a statement today condemning the Hong Kong government’s verdict of the largest national security trial to date. The trial of the 47 democrats involved former and aspiring legislators who organised an unofficial primary election and were accused of violating the national security law for doing so.

The signatories include the last British Governor of Hong Kong Lord Patten of Barnes, former British Foreign Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind, former Polish Foreign Minister Anna Fotyga MEP, the Director of the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute Baroness Helena Kennedy, KC, United States Senator Marco Rubio, as well as other signatories from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and across the European Union.

The coalition urges governments to take action in response to the verdict, “including by imposing targeted sanctions on responsible officials, reviewing Hong Kong’s special privileges such as the status of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices, which recently had employees charged for furthering transnational repression, and offering immigration pathways for Hong Kongers to live in freedom.”

Miriam Lexmann MEP, Co-Chair of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) and Patron of Hong Kong Watch, said: 

“This shambolic trial and consequent verdict highlight that the right to fair trial, as all fundamental rights, continue to be quashed by the Chinese Communist Party and its Hong Kong lackeys. The judiciary has become a vehicle for the oppression of pro-democracy politicians and activists. I’m saddened by the lack of response from our democratic governments. This silence only emboldens further oppression.”

Senator Leo Housakos, Patron of Hong Kong Watch, said:

“I stand in unwavering solidarity with the brave Hong Kongers. The unjust verdict against the 47 democrats is an affront to their rights. No one should be punished for defending freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. Canada must act decisively to sanction those responsible Hong Kong officials.”

Benedict Rogers, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong Watch, said:

“This latest verdict is an all-out assault on democracy and governments which value democracy around the world. Hong Kong Watch stands in solidarity with the 47 democrats, and continues to call on the international community to recognise that business is not as usual in Hong Kong. Nearly 300 people, including activists, opposition politicians, and journalists, have been arrested for violating the National Security Law, while over 10,000 have been arrested for their involvement in the 2019 protests. We only expect these numbers to increase under the new Article 23 legislation. 

We urge governments worldwide to expand visa schemes for Hong Kongers, to sanction the responsible Hong Kong officials, and to review Hong Kong’s special privileges in international fora, including the status of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices.”

Joint statement from 47 signatories

We, the co-signed, write to condemn the verdict of the 47 pro-democracy activists and legislators in their trial under the Hong Kong National Security Law.

In the largest trial since Beijing imposed the National Security Law in Hong Kong in 2020, the 47 democrats, consisting of lawmakers and aspiring lawmakers, were found guilty of organising peaceful election primaries. We oppose this verdict, and support the Hong Kong people’s civil and political rights.

This verdict is evidence of the National Security Law’s ongoing and comprehensive assault on Hong Kong’s autonomy, rule of law, and fundamental freedoms. Hong Kong officials continue to be in violation of their obligations under international laws and treaties, including the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, and ‘one-country, two-systems’.

The international community cannot trust Beijing to keep its word when it comes to Hong Kong, where it continues to break its promises by violating human rights. Governments that value individual’s liberties, the international rules-based order, and democracy must take immediate action in response to this verdict, including by imposing targeted sanctions on responsible officials, reviewing Hong Kong’s special privileges such as the status of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices, which recently had employees charged for furthering transnational repression, and offering immigration pathways for Hong Kongers to live in freedom.

47 Signatories

UK

The Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench), Vice-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Hong Kong and Patron of Hong Kong Watch 

The Lord Patten of Barnes (Conservative), last British Governor of Hong Kong and Patron of Hong Kong Watch

The Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green), Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Hong Kong and former Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales 

The Lord Bethell of Romford (Conservative)

Fiona Bruce MP (Conservative), UK Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief and Patron of Hong Kong Watch

Alistair Carmichael MP (Liberal Democrat), Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Hong Kong and Patron of Hong Kong Watch

The Baroness Cox of Queensbury (Crossbench)

The Baroness D’Souza (Crossbench)

The Baroness Kennedy of the Shaws, KC (Labour), Director of the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute

The Baroness Lister of Burtersett, CBE (Labour), Professor of Social Policy at Loughborough University 

Sir Geoffrey Nice, KC, barrister and Patron of Hong Kong Watch

Sir Malcolm Rifkind, KC, former Foreign Secretary, former Member of Parliament and Patron of Hong Kong Watch

The Lord Shinkwin (Conservative)

Ireland

Senator Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fáil), Co-Chair of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC)

Scotland

Jeremy Balfour MSP (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party)

Ross Greer MSP (Scottish Greens)

EU

Reinhard Bütikofer MEP (Greens, Germany)

Engin Eroglu MEP (Renew Europe, Germany)

Anna Fotyga MEP (European Conservatives & Reformists, Poland), former Foreign Secretary of Poland 

Markéta Gregorová MEP (Greens, Czechia)

Francisco Guerreiro MEP (Greens, Portugal)

Rasa Juknevičienė MEP (European People’s Party, Lithuania), former Defence Minister of Lithuania

Andrius Kubilius MEP (European People’s Party, Lithuania), former Prime Minister of Lithuania

David Lega MEP (European People’s Party, Sweden)

Miriam Lexmann MEP (European People’s Party, Slovakia), Co-Chair of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) and Patron of Hong Kong Watch

René Repasi MEP (Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, Germany)

Thijs Reuten MEP (Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, Netherlands)

Isabel Santos MEP (Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, Portugal)

Hilde Vautmans MEP (Renew Europe, Belgium), President of European Liberal Forum 

Germany

Michael Brand MdB (Christian Democratic Union)

Boris Mijatović MdB (Greens), Spokesperson for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid of the Greens 

Frank Müller-Rosentritt MdB (Free Democratic Party)

Stephan Seiter MdB (Free Democratic Party)

France

Senator Olivier Cadic (Union Centriste)

Constance Le Grip MP (Renaissance)

Switzerland

Carlo Sommaruga MP (Social Democratic Party)

US

Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party 

Ambassador Derek Mitchell, former United States Ambassador to Myanmar, former President of the National Democratic Institute and Patron of Hong Kong Watch

John Moolenaar (R-MI), Chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party

Marco Rubio (R-FL), Senior member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations

Canada

James Bezan MP (Conservative), Shadow Minister for National Defence and Patron of Hong Kong Watch

Senator Pierre J. Dalphond (Progressive Senate Group), Leader of the Progressive Senate Group

Garnett Genuis MP (Conservative), Shadow Minister for International Development and Patron of Hong Kong Watch

Senator Leo Housakos (Conservative), former Speaker of the Senate and Patron of Hong Kong Watch

Tom Kmiec MP (Conservative), Shadow Minister for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Shuvaloy Majumdar MP (Conservative – Calgary Heritage), Member of the Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development

Brad Redekopp MP (Conservative), Associate Shadow Minister for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

47名多國政要聯署譴責香港47人案裁決

47名跨黨派國際國會議員及公眾人物今天發表聯署聲明，譴責香港當局就香港最大規模國安案件「民主派初選47人案」的裁決。

聯署人包括前香港總督彭定康勳爵（Lord Patten of Barnes）、前英國外交大臣聶偉敬爵士（Sir Malcolm Rifkind）、前波蘭外交部長、歐洲議會議員Anna Fotyga MEP、國際律師協會人權研究所所長、御用大律師肯尼迪女男爵（Baroness Helena Kennedy）、美國參議員Marco Rubio，以及其他來自英國、美國、加拿大和歐盟的聯署人。

聯署人促請各國政府因應裁決採取行動，包括「點名制裁肇事官員；審視香港駐海外經濟貿易辦事處的地位等香港特權，最近有經貿辦僱員被指控推進跨國鎮壓；並為香港人提供得以活在自由的移民途徑。」

香港監察贊助人、歐洲議會議員Miriam Lexmann MEP表示：

「這場混亂的審訊及隨後的裁決突顯出，香港公平審訊權與所有基本權利一樣，持續被中國共產黨及其唯命是從的香港奴僕打壓。司法機構已淪為壓迫支持民主的政治人物和社運人士的工具。我對各國民主政府缺乏回應感到難過，這種沉默只會助長進一步壓迫。」

香港監察贊助人、加拿大參議員Senator Leo Housakos表示：

「我堅決站在勇敢的香港人一方。對47名民主派人士的不公正裁決侮辱他們的權利。任何人都不應該因為捍衛自由、民主和法治而受到懲罰。加拿大必須果斷採取行動，制裁肇事香港官員。」

香港監察共同創辦人兼行政總監羅傑斯（Benedict Rogers）表示：

「這宗最新裁決徹底打擊民主和世界各國珍視民主的政府。香港監察與47名民主派人士站在同一陣線，並繼續呼籲國際社會承認香港不能一切如常。社運人士、反對派政治人物和記者等近300人因違反《國家安全法》而被捕，另有逾10,000人因參與2019年抗爭而被捕。我們預計，在23條新法下，這些數字只會有增無減。

我們促請世界各國政府擴大為香港人而設的簽證計劃；制裁肇事香港官員；並審視香港在國際論壇上的特權，包括香港經濟貿易辦事處的地位。」