The Dismantling of Hong Kong’s Civil Society

The once vibrant civil society and pro-democratic institutions of Hong Kong are being systematically dismantled by a Hong Kong government submissive to the dictates of the People’s Republic of China. The Hong Kong government used massive protests against a proposed extradition bill in the summer of 2019 as excuses to silence pro-democracy voices, and later implemented the draconian National Security Law to jail protestors and politicians and shutter independent civil society and media organizations, such as the Apple Daily. The national security police deploy colonial-era public order laws to criminalize dissent, including clapping hands in court and publishing a children’s book. At least 10,500 Hong Kongers have been arrested for political and protest-related offenses. No fewer than 113 individuals face national security charges and will likely be tried with few or no due process protections and with possible extradition to mainland China. At least 65 civil society organizations have shut down or left Hong Kong for fear of prosecution under the National Security Law.

Following the recent 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover to the People’s Republic of China, this hearing will present witnesses with deep involvement in civil society work and experience of being persecuted. The witnesses will address what the losses of civil society organizations and democratic institutions mean for Hong Kong and provide recommendations for U.S. policy.

The archived hearing video can be viewed on the CECC’s YouTube channel.