Hong Kong and its citizens need hope, not fear in 2021 – the UK can help make that happen

There has been enough suffering, it is time for things to change, writes Lord Alton of Liverpool

Pro-democracy activists Ivan Lam, Joshua Wong and Agnes Chow are some of those who have faced up against Hong Kong authorities (REUTERS)

This year has been a dark and unprecedented one for the whole world. Coronavirus has hit us all – either directly or from living through the pandemic.

However, for ordinary Hongkongers, Covid-19 has been just one of a series of  tragedies that has led to the suffocation of their freedoms and fundamental rights. Hongkongers deserve better and in 2021 they need hope, not fear.

Protests erupted across Hong Kong at the beginning of 2020. One million people marched on the streets to defend autonomy in a spectacular demonstration of the fearlessness, persistence and passion of Hongkongers. This uprising was met with ruthless oppression.

Many protesters alleged experiencing harassment and abuse as a consequence of their activism. Disgracefully, the Independent Police Complaints Council exonerated the Hong Kong police and the Hong Kong authorities pushed on with their takeover of the region.

Coronavirus then hit Hong Kong. While governments worldwide were busy deciding how they can best support their citizens and cushion the inevitable traumatic blow they would suffer, the Hong Kong authorities were preoccupied with weaponising the pandemic.

Restrictions and penalties were used to target pro-democracy activists and justify the arrests of political opponents. Key election were delayed under the pretext of the virus but in reality the Hong Kong authorities were doing all they could to prevent people voting.

At the end of May, unprecedented and deeply concerning legislation began to pass through Hong Kong’s governing body. Over the next few months, these laws would legitimise the draconian quashing of rights and freedoms across Hong Kong. The world was left shocked when the National Security Law was imposed on Hong Kong on 30 June 2020. This was the beginning of the end for freedom across the region.

It criminalised acts of “succession”, “subversion”, “terrorism” and “collusion with foreign forces”, all of which incurs a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Despite this harsh sentencing, none of these laws were properly defined. This legal ambiguity has allowed authorities to use the laws as catch-all offences, used to silence those viewed as obstacles to the tyrannical takeover of Hong Kong.

Press freedom was suffocated in October, in a stunning display of desperation from the Hong Kong authorities. Legislation stripped pro-democracy journalists of their right to report in Hong Kong. This took away the international voice of the pro-democracy movement and tried to blind the world to try and stifle international reprisal or accountability.

Hongkongers have suffered enough. 2021 must signify a change. The new year must bring hope to the city, in place of fear. But to do so, Hongkongers need the support of the international community.

Along with my fellow members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Hong Kong, we have been consistently calling upon the UK government to support Hongkongers.

In 2021, we need to see the imposition of hard sanctions on senior Hong Kong officials for the abuse they have perpetrated. If the current British sanctions aren’t suitable for targeting the Hong Kong authorities, then the government needs to introduce new regulations that will be properly applied.  

We must also ensure that those brave Hongkongers who utilise the UK’s British National (Overseas) route to citizenship are properly supported.

A vaccine for Covid-19 is coming. But there is no vaccine for the trampling of autonomy, democracy and basic rights. The only cure for this will come from the Hongkongers themselves who believe in fundamental freedoms.

It us up to in the international community to support them as they attempt to restore freedom to Hong Kong.

Lord Alton of Liverpool is a Crossbench Peer who serves on the International Relations Select Committee in the House of Lords. He is also vice chair of the All-Party Group on Hong Kong