Reinstate Hong Kongers’ right to self-determination NOW

Hong Kong was unlawfully stripped of the right to self-determination without the consent of its people when Hong Kong was removed from the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories on 2 November 1972 by request of the People's Republic of China (PRC).

Since the “handover” in 1997, Hong Kong's freedoms and core values have been increasingly eroded as a result of unrelenting mainlandization and colonialization by Beijing (e.g. the imposed daily quota of 150 migrants from PRC to Hong Kong over the past 30+ years, the approval of white elephant projects; the 2012 proposal of implementing moral and national education), contributing to the rapid and eventual breakdown of One Country Two Systems in Hong Kong.

Furthermore, Beijing has repeatedly denounced the Sino-British Joint Declaration, and the recent social unrest in Hong Kong since June 2019 have exposed Beijing’s escalation of the situation in Hong Kong through the use of excessive police brutality and refusal to fulfill the promises made to Hong Kongers in the Basic Law: free and fair elections and universal suffrage. Hong Kong is now suffering a humanitarian crisis in a state of lawlessness like never before: Protesters and civilians being prosecuted and tortured by Hong Kong police and authorities and hong Kongers having its liberties and freedoms being taken away.

With the current lawlessness created by the unaccountable government led by pro-Beijing puppet Carrie Lam, Beijing is seriously breaching the Sino-British Joint Declaration and Hong Kong Basic Law without being held accountable by the United Nations and the international community.

According to the United Nations, all peoples have the right to self-determination, and the principle of self-determination is prominently embodied in Article I of the United Nations Charter. As the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Hong Kong Basic Law are no longer honored by both signatories, especially China, Hong Kong is now stuck in limbo and badly in need of a self-determination referendum: it’s time to right the wrong and grant Hong Kongers the right to self-determination – which Hong Kong rightfully deserved 30+ years ago but was conveniently denied due to power politics in favour of PRC. Either returning to the British rule or going for independence, Hong Kongers deserve the right to decide their own fate, and the international community must act to protect the rights of Hong Kongers and help them secure their freedoms and democracy.