A Fading Beacon: Hong Kong’s Diminishing Freedoms

Introduction 

Global attention often fixates on immediate crises, while slower yet equally critical developments, like Hong Kong’s situation, are overlooked. The National Security Law (NSL) and Article 23 have enabled China to exert unprecedented control over Hong Kong,  curbing dissent, restricting media, and instilling a culture of fear. Many pro-democracy activists are jailed or exiled, independent media has been shut down, and education is heavily censored. The global community’s shift away from Hong Kong risks being perceived as silent approval, thereby endorsing China’s actions and setting a concerning precedent. This could potentially embolden China to pursue further assertive actions in  Taiwan, Tibet, or even territories in Southeast Asia. Addressing Hong Kong’s situation is vital to upholding human rights globally and preventing a chain reaction of authoritarian expansion that could destabilise democratic values worldwide. As these political developments unfold, who will step forward to protect freedoms and support those fighting for democracy and human rights in Hong Kong?

Historical Context 

Hong Kong became a British colony in 1841 during the First Opium War, and in 1898, the  New Territories were leased to Britain for 99 years under a treaty. In 1984, the Sino-British Joint Declaration established the 'one country, two systems' framework, which promised Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy for 50 years after its handover to China in 1997. However, tensions escalated significantly in 2019 when the Hong Kong government proposed an extradition bill that would allow individuals to be sent to mainland China to stand unfair trials or serve criminal sentences. This sparked widespread protests, which later evolved into a broader pro-democracy and anti-China movement. In response, government officials drafted a new security law, which they claimed would punish crimes to safeguard national security. On June 30 2020, the Standing  Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPCSC) enacted the NSL, targeting four criminal offences: secession, subversion, terrorism, and foreign collusion. The extraterritorial scope of the NSL raised concern among overseas activists, as it applies to anyone worldwide, enabling authorities to issue international warrants for arrest under the law. The NSL has profound implications for Hong Kong's democracy and freedoms,  making a wide range of dissenting actions against China illegal while further diminishing the city's autonomy. In March 2024, the Hong Kong government expanded its control further with the passing of Article 23, a law that covers five types of offences, including theft of state secrets and espionage, sabotage, external interference, insurrection, and treason. It allows closed-door trials that give authorities the power to detain suspects without charge, with sentences of life imprisonment for those who were found guilty of the offences. Article 23 was widely criticised by the international community, viewing it as another step in the erosion of freedoms promised when Hong Kong was handed back to China in 1997.

Suppressing Dissent: Trials and Sentences 

The first national security trial involved Tong Ying-kit, an activist accused of terrorist acts under the NSL, who was sentenced to jail for nine years. Tong was arrested after driving his motorcycle with a flag bearing the 2019 protest slogan ‘Liberate Hong Kong,  Revolution of Our Times’ and charged with terrorism. Similarly, in Hong Kong's largest national security trial, 45 pro-democracy leaders were sentenced to prison in  November 2024 for subversion over their involvement in the 2020 pre-election primaries, while two other defendants were acquitted. The 47 pro-democracy activists,  legislators and campaigners were the prominent figures symbolising resistance to  China’s suppression of dissent and political freedom in Hong Kong. Benny Tai, a legal academic, and Owen Chow, a young activist, received the longest sentence among the  ‘Hong Kong 47’, with Tai sentenced to ten years and Chow to seven years and nine months, respectively. Another activist, Joshua Wong, a well-known figure from the 2019  protest, was sentenced to four years and eight months. The 47 were arrested in 2021,  and their lengthy nonjury trial and sentences have been severely condemned by democratic governments and human rights organisations around the world. Furthermore, the pro-democracy activist and media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been charged with colluding with foreign forces in 2020 and is still facing an ongoing national security trial that could result in a life sentence. Foreign government and rights groups have urged Lai’s release, with it also being made a ‘priority’ by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government.   These trials and sentences reflect the escalating suppression of political dissent in  Hong Kong under the National Security Law, demonstrating China's growing disregard for the autonomy and freedoms promised to the territory.

Crackdown on Media 

Apple Daily, a pro-democracy newspaper founded by Jimmy Lai, was forced to shut down in June 2021. They were accused of foreign collusion offences under the NSL article 29, which criminalises the unauthorised provision of state secrets related to national security to foreign forces. In addition, the police froze company-linked assets worth HK$18  million and deleted all of Apple Daily’s social media accounts. Another pro-democracy media, Stand News, also faced closure after its office was raided by 200 police officers, leading to the arrest of key members. In August 2024, former editors Chung  Pui-kuen and Patrick Lam were found guilty of conspiring to publish ‘seditious’ materials.  The judge stated that Stand News became a tool to smear Beijing and that the articles critical of the government posed a ‘potential damage’ to national security. This marked the first conviction of journalists since Hong Kong's 1997 handover, highlighting the erosion of press freedom and discouraging investigative reporting. Over the past few years, several independent media outlets have shut down, including Citizens’ Radio,  which ceased operations in June 2023 after authorities prohibited its access to donations, citing the NSL. This closure reflects ongoing political and economic pressure on independent media by the Hong Kong and mainland governments, contributing to the further deterioration of press freedom. A survey conducted in July 2023 by the Hong  Kong Foreign Correspondents’ Club revealed that 65% of local journalists now engage in self-censorship. The closure of independent media outlets, alongside the growing self-censorship, indicates a reduction in media transparency, limits critical voices, and ultimately weakens democratic values.

Fear and Self-Censorship 

The objective of the implementation of the security laws is to instil a pervasive climate of fear and to internalise censorship in society. Protestors in the pro-democracy movement erased social media posts, deleted accounts, and shut down online chat groups to avoid incrimination. Youth-led pro-democracy parties like Demosistō dissolved, while businesses associated with the “Yellow Economic Circle” tore down their Lennon Walls—vibrant displays of protest art with pro-democracy and anti-government messages. In academia, freedom of expression has significantly declined as university students and faculties increasingly self-censor their teaching, research, and publications to avoid repercussions under the NSL. Many pro-democracy scholars, fearful for their safety and disillusioned by the changing political climate, have quietly left the city, leaving behind a landscape marked by caution and restraint. Some churches in Hong Kong have also begun self-censoring, avoiding political sermons and views. Since the enactment of the  NSL, the Catholic diocese has ceased holding masses to commemorate the victims of the  1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. This reflects the far-reaching effects of fear and censorship, which have been used to suppress dissenting voices and restrict politically sensitive discussions, further entrenching an oppressive status quo.

A Quiet Alarm for Global Democracy? 

The Beijing-imposed NSL and Article 23 have led to the disbandment of Hong Kong's pro-democracy groups, media, and civil society, with leaders facing persecution. Once known as one of the world's freest societies, Hong Kong's freedoms have been largely extinguished, impacting not only civil liberties but also its economy and population. Since  2020, nearly half a million residents have emigrated, contributing to a shrinking workforce and sluggish economic recovery. The suppression of protests, cancellation of pro-democracy events, and the removal of opposition lawmakers under Beijing’s ‘patriots administering Hong Kong’ policy have further entrenched authoritarian control. At least 290 people were arrested under the NSL, with around one-third convicted.  Additionally, over 58 civil society groups have been forced to disband. The erosion of the rule of law in Hong Kong is reflected in the city's declining scores in the World Justice  Project’s Rule of Law Index, as the security laws undermine the transparency and impartiality traditionally upheld in common law courts, posing a direct threat to the rule of law. The international community should continue to condemn the growing aggression against dissidents and the encroachment on Hong Kong’s civil liberties, which violate the  Joint Declaration. Sanctions should be imposed on individuals responsible for breaching the Joint Declaration, including those who enforced both the NSL and Article 23. Given the political developments in Hong Kong, characterised by the prosecution of pro-democracy figures, the erosion of press freedoms, and the pervasive climate of self-censorship, it is imperative for the international community to undertake a collective response to defend democratic principles against growing authoritarianism. If left unaddressed, the silence today could encourage further overreach, not just in Hong Kong but potentially in other regions, where similar threats to freedoms may emerge.