Albert Ho Chun-yan, the former Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, has been arrested by the national security police for allegedly obstructing justice while on bail, after being charged with “incitement to subvert state power.” The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed concern about the incident and the ongoing case under the Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL).
On March 28, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed its concern about the ongoing NSL case, particularly with regards to Ho Chun-yan, who was detained in March. They urged the authorities to release him for immediate medical treatment.
The 47 pro-democracy activists charged with “conspiracy to subvert state power” are currently on trial, and on the 33rd day of the trial, the trial was postponed due to one of the judges falling ill. Ho was detained in high-security Stanley Prison after his bail was revoked, and reports from Radio France Internationale suggest that he was mainly held in solitary confinement.
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has been closely monitoring the NSL, and in March 2023, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed concern about the human rights of ethnic minorities such as Uighurs and Tibetans, as well as the arbitrary detention of human rights defenders and lawyers. When the “47-person case” commenced in February 2023, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights posted the deliberation of the UN Human Rights Committee’s call for the Hong Kong government to abolish the NSL and the crime of incitement.
The NSL has been criticized by several United Nations human rights experts for violating human rights. In October 2022, seven members of the social organization “Glory to Hong Kong” were found guilty under the NSL, and Ravina Shamdasani, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights spokesperson, expressed shock at the verdict. She reminded the Hong Kong government that its judicial and law enforcement should be in line with the obligations set forth in international human rights law. The NSL fundamentally contradicts international law and China’s human rights obligations, and any law related to national security should have a clear scope and definition and only allow strict and necessary restrictions on human rights.