The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights called for the overturning of sentences of up to seven years in prison imposed on three protesters in Hong Kong. Volker Turk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, classified the penalties as excessive, both for the activists and for the civil society organization to which they are linked.
The convicted Chow Hang-Tung, Lee Cheuk-yan, and Albert Ho were detained for organizing peaceful vigils in memory of the victims of the 1989 repression at Tiananmen Square in Beijing. The three were members of the Hong Kong Alliance, a former group supporting the students who participated in the 1989 pro-democracy protests, which was dissolved in recent years due to government pressure.
Turk emphasized that the sentence reflects a "flawed National Security Law," which has been increasingly restricting civic space in Hong Kong since its passage in 2020. The high commissioner called for the sentences to be reconsidered and for the legislation to be revised to be in compliance with the international human rights obligations that China has committed to respect.
The UN statements reflect growing international concern about the human rights situation in Hong Kong and the state of freedom of expression in the region.
