First anniversary of Hong Kong passing repressive Article 23 law

Law a threat to activists in Hong Kong and those living in the UK

Activists’ letter and protest call on Sir Keir Starmer to protect Hongkongers under threat in the UK 

‘Article 23 is a gross violation of human rights and a threat to Hongkongers living in the UK who exercise their right to freedom of expression’ - Sacha Deshmukh

Amnesty International UK, Hong Kong activists in the UK - including those facing persecution under Article 23 and who have also had ‘Wild West’-style bounties put on their heads, and diaspora organisations are marking the first anniversary of Hong Kong passing the repressive National Security Ordinance, Article 23 (19 March) by sending a letter to the Prime Minister calling for better protection from the long arm of the Hong Kong authorities.

In an open letter the activists and groups are calling on the Prime Minister to work with the communities and individuals who are at risk from this transnational repression to develop a national strategy which provides effective and systematic protection for Hong Kong activists in the UK, as well as for it to press Hong Kong to scrap Article 23 and other repressive laws. The letter also calls for the UK government to establish a dedicated reporting mechanism for victims and ensure that frontline law enforcement agencies across the UK have more resources and a consistent approach to protect people from transnational repression. 

Article 23 is designed to intimidate and silence Hong Kong activists, journalists and students and stifle all criticism of the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities and their policies, both within the city and globally. 

There are at least seven activists exiled in the UK, all face persecution by the HK authorities under Article 23 and they also had HK$1m (£105,000) bounties put on their heads in 2023 and 2024 under Hong Kong’sNational Security Law, increasing the already-existing climate of fear in the territory. 

To date,16 people in the territory have been arrested under Article 23 and face prison sentences for activities ranging from publishing a post marking the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown to wearing T-shirts and masks printed with protest slogans, and criticising the Government online.  

International media and NGOs operating in Hong Kong are also vulnerable to the sweeping powers of Article 23, leaving them open to accusations of collusion with foreign forces, espionage and theft of state secrets. 

Sacha Deshmukh, Amnesty International UK’s Chief Executive, said:

“Article 23 seeks to shut down all criticism in Hong Kong and silence Hong Kong activists, journalists and students wherever they live, including in the UK. 

“It is a gross violation of human rights and a threat to Hongkongers living in the UK who exercise their right to freedom of expression.

“The UK is home to the largest exiled population of Hong Kongers and the Prime Minister must make it clear that the Government will work with them to create an effective and appropriate system to keep them safe from the long arm of this brutal law. 

“Compared to countries such as USA and Canada, the UK has been slow to establish the necessary policies and institutional awareness in response to transnational repression.

“The UK government must use all diplomatic means including UN human rights mechanisms to urge the Hong Kong authorities to scrap Article 23 and other repressive laws and end this dystopian nightmare once and for all.”

Crushing Hong Kong’s freedom

In addition to the expanded repression as a result of Article 23, journalists, broadcasters and book publishers have been among those prosecuted and imprisoned under the territory’s notorious National Security Law since 2020. Civil society organisations - both in Hong Kong and abroad - have faced criminal charges or harassment for their legitimate activities. 

The long reach of Chinese state repression has also meant that Chinese and Hong Kong communities in the UK, other parts of Europe and North America have all suffered various kinds of threats and intimidation as part of a sinister pattern of transnational repression. 

The letter to the Prime Minister text and signatories in full

Photos of today's protest outside Parliament  (credit: MA Ventoura/Amnesty International UK)