Key facts
- China's promises of self-government for Hong Kong following British rule were short-lived.
- The national security law was implemented to curtail Hong Kong's freedom and autonomy.
- Activists are calling for governments to impose sanctions against individuals involved in eroding Hong Kong's freedoms.
- There are calls to scrutinize export controls on dual-use goods and surveillance technologies to China.
- The activist urges governments to ban products related to human rights abuses in Hong Kong and China.
A Hong Kong activist is calling on international governments to take concrete actions to hold China accountable for its policies that have eroded the city's freedoms and autonomy. The activist, who grew up in Hong Kong during a period of relative freedom before the 1997 handover, recounts witnessing the gradual tightening of Beijing's grip, including the suppression of democratic movements and the implementation of the national security law.
The national security law, enacted to curtail freedoms, has led to the arrest of friends and loved ones, forcing the activist into exile. The activist notes that media outlets have been shut down and individuals arrested for expressing dissent, such as commenting on government COVID-19 policy. The activist criticizes the international community for offering sympathy but failing to take substantive action.
Specifically, the activist urges governments to impose sanctions on individuals involved in the erosion of Hong Kong's freedoms, prevent them from storing wealth in foreign shores, and scrutinize export controls on dual-use goods and surveillance technologies. There are also calls to ban products linked to human rights abuses in Hong Kong and China, and to avoid supporting companies complicit in these actions. The activist emphasizes that "Stand with Hong Kong" must be more than a slogan, but a commitment to holding China accountable for its actions and the destruction of common values.