The Australian Government is deeply concerned by the guilty verdicts handed down today in Hong Kong to Ms Chow Hang-tung and Mr Lee Cheuk-yan, former leaders of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China.
Our thoughts are with their family members and supporters at this difficult time.
The continuing broad application of national security legislation in Hong Kong to arrest, pressure and prosecute pro-democracy figures, opposition groups, media, trade unions and civil society has a chilling effect on free speech.
We continue to call on China to cease suppression of freedoms of expression, assembly, media and civil society. We also call for the repeal of the National Security Law in Hong Kong. This call is consistent with UN Human Rights Committee recommendations.
Australia has consistently raised our human rights concerns directly with the Hong Kong and Chinese governments at the highest levels. We will continue to do so.
