Repression and Resistance in Hong Kong

In the five years since the imposition of the draconian National Security Law, Hong Kong has experienced a dramatic transformation - from one of Asia’s most open societies to a city where free expression is criminalized, civil society is dismantled, and political prisoners including pro-democracy leaders, journalists, and students, face harassment, prosecution, and long Pr*son sentences. To date, nearly 2,000 political prisoners have been detained since 2019, many of whom remain imprisoned under conditions that violate international human rights standards.

Judicial independence - once a defining feature of Hong Kong’s governance - has been severely eroded. Judges presiding over national security cases increasingly issue rulings that reflect the priorities of the state over the impartial application of law. The prosecution of pro-democracy figures, including Jimmy Lai and former Hong Kong lawmakers, illustrate how the legal system has been re-engineered as a tool of state control. Fundamental rights—including access to legal counsel, the presumption of innocence, and the right to a fair trial—are being systematically curtailed. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong government has extended its long arm of repression to try to silence its critics globally by issuing cash bounties on Hong Kong activists in the U.S. while detaining and harassing their families in Hong Kong.

Instead of restoring freedom and releasing political prisoners, Hong Kong officials are conducting a global messaging campaign to rehabilitate the image of the city as a stable and reliable international financial center. This effort attempts to obscure the reality of escalating repression, which has contributed significantly to the city’s economic and reputational decline. At the same time, there is growing concern over Hong Kong’s emergence as a key conduit for the illicit transfer of sensitive technology and financial resources to sanctioned states such as Russia, Iran, and North Korea—raising major implications for U.S. national security and global rule of law.

Please join us for a half-day discussion with decision-makers and thought leaders on how to effectively counter repression in Hong Kong and promote freedom in throughout the People’s Republic of China and the world. The Symposium will feature opening remarks from Members of Congress and three sets of panel discussions. Continental breakfast will be available at 9:00 a.m. before the program starts. The program will begin at 9:30 a.m. and conclude around 1:30 p.m., followed by lunch and networking.

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Specific event location will be emailed closer to the event date.

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For more information, please visit our website.

For any questions, please contact [email protected].

Host or Publisher The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation