The National Security Law was implemented to criminalize pro-democracy activists, journalists, and critical voices. It is the main cause of Hong Kong's civic space rating being classified as 

A comprehensive new national security law (NSL) for Hong Kong was adopted by China in 2020, restricting the autonomy of the city and facilitating the prosecution of demonstrators. The following were 

This new legislation was seen as leverage for the Chinese Communist Party to impose their laws, morals and values on Hong Kong. Basically, removing the people's freedoms. The law sparked protests that were heard around the world. But in the end, Beijing prevailed. 

Pro-democracy activists in 2020, credit: AFP

Under the national security statute, the authorities 

 after activists, including the trustees of a fund that supported protestors and their legal fees. 

47 pro-democracy activists have started their national security trials, while human rights attorney Chow Hang Tung is still being persecuted in court. In addition to a seasoned journalist, the authorities also detained six activists for sedition. 

Under pressure from the authorities, an investigative news outlet and a hospital union were shut down, and a pro-democracy organization was compelled to remove its articles from its website. 

Police also issued a ban on all gatherings at the Tiananmen Square massacre anniversary, patrolled parks, and detained six people. For protesting, two seasoned campaigners were found guilty.

A candlelight vigil in Taipei, Taiwan, for the Tiananmen Square massacre anniversary Credit: Lam Yik Fei for The New York Times

John Lee Ka-chiu was sworn in as the leader of Hong Kong on July 1st, 2022, in what was largely perceived as a move by the Chinese government to consolidate its control over the territory. 

He oversaw the crackdown on the 2019 mass protests and the implementation of the city's oppressive national security law while serving as the security chief of Hong Kong from 2017 to 2021. 

In the city's may election for chief executive, in which he was the only contender, he succeeded Carrie Lam. The 64-year-old was chosen by an election committee made up primarily of supporters of Beijing who cast ballots in the election that was rubber-stamped.

The UN Human Rights Committee examined Hong Kong's record on civil and political rights from July 7 to July 12, 2022.

UN experts questioned human rights violations during the review, including the detention of activists for sedition and under the National Security Act, the crackdown on the media and civil society, the failure to hold those responsible for police abuses during protests in 2019 accountable, and restrictions on academic freedom, among other problems.

The latest news coming from Hong Kong is that 90-year-old Cardinal Joseph Zen, a vocal opponent of China's record on human rights, is on trial for supporting demonstrators. He went on trial on Monday for using an activist fund that has since been closed.

His 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund, which helped demonstrators with their legal and medical expenses, was accused of not being properly registered, and Zen, Denise Ho, Margaret Ng, Cyd Ho, Hui Po-keung, and Sze Ching-wee were charged with this. They could be sentenced to a HK$10,000 ($1,270) fine but not to jail time.

Following Zen's detention in May, Washington demanded his prompt release, and the Vatican came under fire for its lack of action. Zen is characterized as caring and altruistic by those close to him. The previous governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten, referred to Zen as "a real prince of the Church."

As the Chinese Communist Party took over the nation, a teenage Zen escaped to Hong Kong and joined the Catholic Salesians community. A proposed national security statute was openly condemned by him, and he frequently participated in street protests. In 2002, Zen was appointed Hong Kong's sixth bishop after being consecrated in 1961. In 2006, he was made a cardinal.

China's Forgotten Grip on Hong Kong

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