“Ballad on the Shore” is a glimpse into the lives and traditions of Hong Kong's “boat people.”

HRIC Executive Director Zhou Fengsuo met with members of the Special Committee on the CCP at the June Fourth Memorial Museum in New York. 

From speaking with activists, I have learned several key facts about the CCP’s tactics for transnational repression. First, the significance of the internet for surveillance purposes cannot be understated. Second, students who support the CCP pose a threat to Chinese students’ freedom of speech. Third, the fact that most Chinese students have family members back home makes them uniquely vulnerable to “hostage” style questioning and pressure from the authorities. 

Context
Since 1989, June Fourth vigil has become a day of peaceful demonstrations in Hong Kong with thousands of Hong Kongers gathered in Victoria Park, lighting candles to commemorate the victims every year. For years, Hong Kong has been the only city on Chinese controlled soil to mark June Fourth anniversary. Hong Kong had also been holding one of the world’s largest June Fourth vigils yearly.

However, since COVID-19 hit Hong Kong in 2020, the Hong Kong government invoked social distancing measures to ban the annual candlelight vigil and weaponized a number of domestic laws, including National Security Law, Public Order Ordinance, sedition charge under Crime Ordinance, to combat June Fourth commemorations both online and offline. Even though all COVID-19 restrictions in Hong Kong were lifted earlier in 2023, the vigil is still on hold for the fourth year with police arresting and detaining people for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of peaceful assembly or freedom of expression on that day.

Ms. Zhang Yuhong (张玉红) was stopped and detained by police when she attempted to visit the hometown of “Sitong Bridge warrior” Peng Lifa. She was released after being unreachable for more than 24 hours.

Human Rights in China Urgent Appeal: concerning young human rights defender Kwon Pyong, who is currently risking his life to seek political asylum in South Korea by motorboat. 

On July 17, 2023, Human Rights in China (HRIC) made two submissions to the UN Universal Periodic Review (Fourth Cycle) of China. The 45^th session of the Universal Periodic Review of China, including Mainland, Hong Kong and Macau, is scheduled to take place from April to May in 2024. 

This report has provided a comprehensive account of discrimination based on SOGIE in China. In response to these issues, we strongly call upon the international community and human rights organisations to continue their scrutiny of the rights situation of LGBTQ people in China and apply pressure on the Chinese Government to ensure respect for and protection of human rights. We encourage the LGBTQ community and NGOs in China to continue their advocacy efforts for the promotion of the rights and welfare of LGBTQ individuals. 

Human Rights in China (HRIC) makes this submission to the Human Rights Council (HRC) in advance of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) (Fourth Cycle) of Hong Kong SAR, China. HRIC’s submission focuses on online rights and internet freedoms in Hong Kong, which has significantly deteriorated in a post-COVID era, and after the promulgation of the National Security Law (NSL) . We highlight examples of the erosion of online rights in Hong Kong, particularly the freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly, and association, experienced by individuals or vulnerable groups such as activists, journalists, and human rights defenders. In exercising their fundamental freedoms and rights, they have been targeted, criminally sanctioned, and discriminated against. Lastly, we draw attention to how women are disproportionately affected, with online gender-based violence (OGBV) becoming a prevalent issue.