SCU Human Rights Study Center Comments on HK National Security Law

Experts invited by Chang Fo-Chuan Center for the Study of Human Rights at Soochow University discussed the controversy and related issues on the passing and enforcement of Hong Kong national security law with several other human rights organizations at Soochow’s Downtown Campus on July 9^th, 2020.

The forum, entitled “Anxiety over Hong Kong National Security Law,” not only spotlighted the legal dispute but also analyzed the trend for the political situation between Taiwan and Hong Kong after the law came into effect. The participating scholars also talked over the possible change on international politics once Hong Kong implemented the formula of “one country, one system”.

On June 30^th, the eve of the 23^rd anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong, the standing committee of China’s National People’s Congress resolved to introduce the sweeping security legislation, which would allow mainland China’s state security agencies to operate in Hong Kong and indirectly recognize the practice of “one country, one system” in this special administrative region.

Such a decision violated the human rights and freedom of Hong Kong people by laying down some excessive laws, which were apparently unfair for them. In the future, people from around the world travelling there are possible to be framed or threatened by China’s government invoking the Hong Kong national security law.

In response to the situation, Mainland Affair Council in Taiwan officially established The Taiwan-Hong Kong Services and Exchanges Office to address the need of political asylum sought by Hong Kong people, and to bring the issue to the world’s attention.

 Taking the plight in Hong Kong as a reference, the attendees reflected on the asylum work they’d done in the last year in the second sessions of the forum. They looked into the deficiency of humanitarian aid in Taiwan currently and meanwhile drew up plans for creating a well-developed system with the collaboration between government agencies and non-governmental groups.