Hong Kong Rule of Law Report 2022 Tells a Global Cautionary Tale of Human Rights and Democracy

The concept of the rule of law is a cornerstone of any just society. However, without concrete implementation, it remains a mere abstraction. The Hong Kong Rule of Law Report for 2022 delves deep into the practical functioning of the rule of law in Hong Kong, exploring its implications for human rights and governmental accountability.

The Thin Line: Rule of Law vs. Suppression of Freedom

The report underscores the critical importance of safeguarding human rights and ensuring checks and balances over governmental powers within the framework of the rule of law. Without these safeguards, the “rule of law” can be wielded as a tool to curtail freedom and human rights, perpetuating a cycle of authoritarian control. Hong Kong serves as a stark illustration of this phenomenon.

Following the pro-democracy demonstrations in 2019, the Chinese Communist Party (“CCP”) disregarded its obligations under the Sino-British Joint Declaration and imposed the National Security Law (“NSL”) in direct violation of the Basic Law. Despite Hong Kong’s commitment as a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, it acted subservient to the CCP, using the pretext of the “rule of law” to enforce national security laws and colonial sedition laws, all in the name of preserving stability and bolstering the totalitarian regime.