UN Human Rights Committee: Hong Kong must abolish security law

It is deemed incompatible with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The former British colony is a signatory to the document, unlike the Chinese central government. Criticised for repression of freedom of expression. Calls for investigation into police actions during 2019 pro-democracy protests.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews) - The United Nations Human Rights Committee yesterday urged the city's authorities to repeal the national security law wanted by Beijing. The measure is deemed incompatible with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which the former British colony is a signatory, unlike the Chinese government.

According to UN experts, the Security Act contains overly general measures that allow a wide range of situations to be framed as potential crimes. This leads to continued violations of freedom of expression, which should instead be guaranteed to Hong Kong citizens according to international laws and Sino-British agreements.

The Chinese central authorities imposed the security measure in June 2020. The official line is that the legislation served to bring 'stability and peace' back to the city, which was shaken by the repeated demonstrations of the pro-democracy movement that started in the summer of 2019.  For critics, it is a tool to silence the democratic camp and effectively limit the city's autonomy.

In their meetings with Hong Kong representatives, members of the UN Human Rights Committee also expressed concern about the crackdown on press freedom. In addition, they criticised the reduced presence of democrats in the city parliament (Legco), which followed an electoral reform that, according to Beijing, was supposed to favour the election of only 'patriotic' candidates. Translated: aligned with the Chinese Communist Party.

The UN Committee made further recommendations to the Hong Kong executive that should be adopted by 28 July 2025. These include the need to open an investigation into police actions during the 2019 protests and to present a clear timetable for achieving universal suffrage.

John Lee's city executive responded in kind to the UN Committee, speaking of 'unfair criticism'. The local authorities maintain the UN humanitarian experts did not take into account the special circumstances in which Hong Kong finds itself, and the fact that the security bill should be seen in the context of the 'violent social unrest' that took place in 2019.

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