Amnesty International has released a report asserting that a majority of individuals convicted under Hong Kong’s national security law have been “wrongly criminalized.” According to Amnesty’s research, over 80% of the 189 convictions since 2020 were related to “legitimate expression” activities that, under international norms, should not lead to criminal charges. This suggests that these cases lacked evidence of violent acts or incitement.
Introduced in 2020 by the Chinese Communist Party without the approval of Hong Kong’s legislature, Article 20 of the law imposes significant restrictions on free speech regarding China’s territorial claims. Territories like Taiwan, Hong Kong, Tibet, and Xinjiang have been particularly affected. The law’s broad language gives authorities ample latitude to classify dissent as a threat to national security, targeting peaceful advocacy.
Various organizations, including Human Rights Watch, the United Nations, and the European Union, have criticized the national security law for allegedly serving as a tool for the Chinese government to suppress pro-democracy activism and weaken freedoms in the region.
Hong Kong’s status as a special administrative region theoretically allows it some autonomy from mainland China, including maintaining distinct political and social systems. However, critics argue that the national security law has eroded these freedoms, enhancing central governmental control over the territory. This critique is echoed by the larger discourse around the law, as articulated by rights organizations.
Amnesty International’s findings fuel the ongoing debate over the implications of the national security law on Hong Kong’s political freedoms and the rule of law. The original report detailing these findings can be accessed here.