Joint Statement on the Massive Hong Kong Police Arrests of Political Activists
On January 6, 2021, dozens of prominent former pro-democracy legislators, political activists, reporters, and legal experts were arrested for allegedly violating the ever-expanding National Security Law of Hong Kong. They were accused of subversion in association with a primary election held by pro-democracy candidates last year ahead of the scheduled Legislative Council Elections, just to have a better representation of the electorate.
In recent months, the crackdown on political dissent in Hong Kong has escalated. Today, the Hong Kong government, emboldened by the regime in Beijing, indicated its determination to purge all opposition voices. Hong Kong no longer has any remnants of freedom of speech available in the city. Anyone who has openly criticised the governments of Hong Kong or China, regardless of their nationality, can be subjected to the same treatment on arrival in Hong Kong.
On Saturday, August 12, 1961, the East German authority, under the Soviet's guidance, decided to act on the relative silence of the US Government on the Berlin situation that resulted in a 140-mile obstacle being erected within 24 hours. It was known as the Barbed Wire Sunday.
Hong Kong has just had its version of Barbed Wire Wednesday.
The international signatories of this joint statement urge our respective governments to condemn this mass arrest and collaborate to confront the Communist Government in Beijing with concrete actions. The loss of Hong Kong is not incidental. It is a sustained challenge to democracies worldwide. The world must stand up to the Chinese Communist Party before it is too late.
Co-signatories:
- Adelaide - Stand with HK
- Alliance Canada Hong Kong
- Australia Hong Kong Link (澳港聯)
- Befria Hongkong - Liberate Hong Kong (Sweden)
- Brisbane international student solidarity with Hong Kong
- Canada-Hong Kong Link (港加聯)
- Canberra Hong Kong concern group
- Comité pour la liberté à Hongkong (居法港人撐香港)
- Dawn of Hong Kong (香港の夜明け), Japan
- DC4HK- Washingtonian for Hong Kong
- Democracy for Hong Kong (D4HK), UK
- Fight for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong (SWHK), Global
- Frankfurt Stands With Hong Kong (Germany)
- Germany Stands with Hong Kong
- Global Solidarity with Hong Kong - Chicago (芝援香港)
- Halifax-Hong Kong Link
- HKers in Switzerland
- Hong Kong Committee in Norway (挪威香港文化協會)
- Hong Kong Democracy & Human Rights Association (University of Washington)
- Hong Kong Dossier (Houston)
- Hong Kong Forum, Los Angeles (洛杉磯香港論壇)
- Hongkonger in Deutschland e.V. 香港人在德國協會
- Hong Kong International Alliance Brisbane
- Hong Kong Liberty (攬炒團隊), Global
- Hong Kong Outlanders in Taiwan (台灣香港邊城青年)
- Hong Kong Social Action Movements in Boston
- Human Rights Manifesto, Canada (維護人權同盟)
- Internationale Gesellschaft für Menschenrechte Deutsche Sektion (IGFM Germany)
- New Hong Kong Cultural Club 新香港文化協會 (Canada)
- NY4HK New Yorkers Supporting Hong Kong
- McMaster Stands With Hong Kong (Canada)
- Mustard Seeds HK Concern Group (Canada)
- Netherlands for Hong Kong (Netherlands)
- Northern California Hong Kong Club (北加州香港會)
- NSW HongKongers (Sydney Australia)
- Ontario Hong Kong Youth Action (Canada) 安港學盟
- PL4HK - supporting Hong Kong from Poland
- Saskatchewan Stands with Hong Kong
- SEArious For HKG (西雅圖香港民主監察小組)
- Seattle Hong Kong Students Alliance (西雅圖香港學生聯盟)
- Stand with Hong Kong -Belgium
- Stand with Hong Kong Vienna
- Taiwan Hong Kong Association (台灣香港協會)
- The Hongkonger (Green River College)
- Torontonian HongKongers Action Group
- University of Manitoba Hong Kong Concern
- Vancouver Christians for Love, Peace and Justice 溫哥華基督徒守護愛與和平公義團契
- Vancouverites Concerned About Hong Kong
- Vancouver Society in Support of Democratic Movement
- Verein zur Verteidigung der Menschenrechte und Religionsfreiheit e.V. (Germany)
- Victoria Hong Kong Tertiary Student Association
- Victoria Hongkongers Association (Australia) 澳洲維港
- Visual Artists Guild (USA)
- Waterloo Lion Rock Spirit (Canada) 滑鐵盧獅子山精神
- We are Kiwi Hong Kongers 香港逃犯條例修訂草案紐西蘭關注組
- Yellow Power NZ (New Zealand)
- Winnipeg Hong Kong Concern
- Wir für Hong Kong (Germany)