Hong Kong: Human Rights

(asked on 9th April 2019) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the charges (1) incitement to public nuisance, (2) incitement to incite public nuisance, and (3) conspiracy to public nuisance, used in Hong Kong; and what effect they anticipate such charges will have on Hong Kong’s freedoms and sustaining the “two systems, one country” model.


Answered by
Baroness Goldie Portrait
Baroness Goldie
This question was answered on 25th April 2019

The British Government is aware that each of the nine key figures of the 'Occupy' Movement were found guilty of at least one public nuisance offence on 9 April. The Court found that the charges brought were constitutional. It also found that the offence of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance does not have the undesirable effect of curtailing or suppressing civil disobedience or supressing human rights.

Sentencing is due on 24 April, and the defendants have the right to appeal including on the legitimacy of the legal provisions under which they were charged. It would therefore not be appropriate to comment further or in detail on these ongoing legal cases. It would be deeply concerning if this or any other ruling discourages legitimate protest in the future, or discourages young people from engaging in politics.

Hong Kong citizens are guaranteed the right to freedom of assembly and demonstration under the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Basic Law. Hong Kong's success and stability depend on its high degree of autonomy and respect for the fundamental rights and freedoms enshrined in the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law.

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