We call for the unconditional release of all Hong Kong 47.

We call on the Government of Canada to:

• Urge the Hong Kong Government to drop all charges against and release immediately the Hong Kong 47, who were prosecuted solely for their leading roles in democratic movements in Hong Kong;

 

• Issue a statement condemning all authorities and officials involved in the persecution of the Hong Kong 47, including the Office for Safeguarding National Security, the Committee for Safeguarding National Security, the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force, the National Security Prosecutions Division of the Department of Justice, and designated National Security Law judges in the Hong Kong courts.

 

The Hong Kong 47 are charged with “conspiracy to subversion” under the city’s notoriously draconian National Security Law, which is relentlessly and systematically dismantling free speech, free press and free association in the city. All of them will face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment for merely organizing an unofficial primary election among the pro-democracy camp in 2020, a legitimate democratic practice.

The Hong Kong 47 include youth activist Joshua Wong, veteran activist “Long Hair” Kwok-hung Leung, former law professor at the University of Hong Kong Benny Tai, former lawmaker Claudia Mo, former journalist Gwyneth Ho, and former union representative Wai-ming Yu. Only 13 of them have been granted bail, and the remainder have been detained to serve “de facto sentences” since February 2021, facing unreasonably lengthy court proceedings to reach trial.

The Government of Canada has long recognised the deep ties between Canada and Hong Kong. Since the first Hongkongers arrived here over 150 years ago, they have been contributing immensely to Canada’s economic, social and political lives. Following the passage of the National Security Law, Canada has continuously expressed its deep concern over the Law and the deteriorating human rights situation of the city. The country made an official pledge in 2021 to continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with Hongkongers. 

There is a consensus among democratic allies that global leaders, including those in Canada, should be in the frontline to defend human rights, liberty, and dignity.  This is especially the case when the Chinese Government is repeatedly and deliberately infringing the rules-based international order and exporting its authoritarian model beyond its borders. Its “long arm” extends to all free societies across the globe, with Hong Kong being the first to bear the brunt. Even here in Canada, our own national security is threatened by this authoritarian regime on a daily basis, which by no means we should turn a blind eye to.

We hope both the Ministers and Members of Parliament can take actions and answer our calls.

【呼籲無條件釋放47名港人】

47港人案將於1月17日開審，我們現正呼籲加拿大國會議員向香港政府要求釋放47名民主派人士。

我們要求加拿大政府：

• 敦促香港政府撤銷對47名民主派人士的指控，並即時釋放他們

 

• 發出聲明讉責涉及政治打壓47名民主派人士的部門和官員，包括：維護國家安全公署；維護國家安全委員會；警方國家安全處；律政司維護國家安全檢控科；以及負責審理國安法案件的指定法官

自2020年開始，中共透過國安法持續地剝削香港的言論自由，多名社運人士及傳媒人士因而身陷囹圄。47名民主派人士因於2020年組織及參與「民主派初選」，於2021年1月以涉嫌「顛覆國家政權罪」拘捕。倘若罪成，他們最高可被判終身監禁。

47名港人包括：前香港眾志秘書長黃之鋒、前香港大學法律學院副教授戴耀廷、社民連「長毛」梁國雄、前立法會議員毛孟靜、前《立場新聞》記者何桂藍等。當中只有13人獲得保釋，其餘人士則由2021年2月起被拘留候審。

加拿大與香港有深厚連繫。早於1870年代，已有首批港人移民加拿大落地生根，隨後港人對加拿大經濟、社會及政治發展作出莫大貢獻。隨著國安法落實，加拿大政府一直對香港人權不斷惡化的情況表示深度關注；2021年，加拿大政府更作出承諾，會繼續與港人並肩而進。

當前，民主國家已有共識，一致認為全球的領導者理應身先士卒，共同捍衛人權、自由及尊嚴。更何況，中共政府近年不斷試圖違反國際法則，並於別國散播其專制獨裁理念。香港首當其衝，公民社會傾覆於旦夕；而加拿大的國家安全亦受到嚴峻考驗，本國國民及在上位者實在不得不察。

在此，我們希望加拿大外交部部長及國會議員能深思熟慮，為香港人作出行動及回應訴求。