Open letter claims imprisonment of pro-democracy activists violates international treaties, amid fears of further crackdowns on freedoms
The imprisonment of three prominent Hong Kong democracy activists earlier this year is a “serious threat” to the rule of law and violates international treaties, a group of leading attorneys has said, amid claims the city’s courts are increasingly politicised.
In the open letter, the lawyers, including former lord chancellor Charles Falconer and six other Queen’s Counsel, heavily criticised the jailing of Joshua Wong, Alex Chow and Nathan Law in August for their role in pro-democracy protests.
The trio avoided jail terms last year when they were convicted of “illegal assembly” and sentenced to community service under Hong Kong’s public order ordinance. The government appealed to have the sentences reviewed, which resulted in stiffer penalties of six to eight months in prison.
“The independence of the judiciary, a pillar of Hong Kong, risks becoming a charade, at the beck and call of the Chinese Communist party,” the letter said.
“Hong Kong’s rule of law and basic freedoms, at the heart of the principle of ‘one country, two systems’, now face grave threats,” it continued, referring to the arrangement negotiated between the UK and China to grant Hong Kong autonomy.
