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Two arrested for shooting water-guns during Songkran festival celebrations
In April 2023, two men were arrested for shooting water guns at police officers during the Songkran water festival. The festival had taken place on 9 April 2023 in Kowloon City, an area of Hong Kong nicknamed “Little Thailand” for its large number of ethnic Thai residents. In Thai traditions, it is customary to celebrate the Thai…
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Joshua Wong sentenced to 3 months in prison for revealing personal details of police officer
On 17 April 2023, pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong was jailed for 3 months for posting on social media in 2020 personal details of a police officer. The officer had shot an unarmed protestor with a live round during the 2019 extradition bill protests, leaving the protestor in critical condition. The protestor was later convicted of protest-related offences and sentenced to 6 years’ imprisonment, whereas by…
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Hong Kong police intimidate rally organizers
Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Hong Kong police have consistently banned public gatherings for ‘health’ reasons. In March 2023, the police ostensibly started granting permission for public gatherings again, but the reality is that there remain grossly unacceptable fetters on the freedom of assembly. In March to April 2023, there were several…
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Police watchdog dismisses complaint by reporter hit by police projectile during protests
In January 2023, the Independent Police Complaints Council (“IPCC”) dismissed a journalist’s complaint against the police. The journalist formerly worked for Commercial Radio, and had been shot by the police with a sponge grenade during the 2019 protests. The reporter first made his complaint to the Complaints Against Police Office (“CAPO”), a division within the…
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The NSL’s extraterritorial reach: Hong Kong police harass families of overseas Hong Kongers
After attaining “comprehensive control” over Hong Kong, the Chinese Communist Party (“CCP”) is increasing its efforts to crack down on Hong Kongers in the diaspora. The NSL purports to have extraterritorial application, criminalizing acts committed outside of the Hong Kong territory (even by non-nationals). This flies in the face of basic international law principles regarding…
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Joint Submissions to the UN Human Rights Committee
Together with the Hong Kong Human Rights Information Centre, we made submissions to the UNHRC on Hong Kong’s failure to comply w the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights.