Hong Kong
One ministry partner shares how the national security law enacted by China on Hong Kong in July has meant the loss of democratic freedoms for the Hong Kong people.
Things have been changing rapidly in Hong Kong since the National Security Law came into effect on July 1, 2020. We want to share this with you to ask you to pray for this city and for our ministry here.
On the day these new laws came into affect, 370 people were arrested for illegal assembly and other protest-related activities, with ten people charged under the new national security law. (Several of those charged under this law were charged because the police found pro-democracy banners in their bags, even though they were not displayed.)
In the first week of July, one of the early warnings of how extensive these changes were going to be was hearing from a teacher friend about new mandatory hours of patriotic instruction for all teachers in all schools. Another change came when books considered to be of incendiary nature were removed from public libraries.
Two weeks later, the local newspapers had an article stating that several financial investment firms in Hong Kong were checking their clients to ensure that they didn't have any ties with Hong Kong’s democratic movement for fear that assets would be frozen or confiscated.
Here’s a breakdown of events that took place the last week of July 2020:
Monday | Legislative Council (LegCo) member for the Social Welfare constituency was fired from his professional position as an instructor at the Baptist University. He was one of the leaders in the 2014 Democracy Movement, although this wasn't stated as the reason for his firing.
Tuesday | Hong Kong University fired professor and legal scholar Benny Tai, also a leader in the Democracy Movement.
Wednesday | Four young people between ages 16 and 21 were arrested, taken from their homes by the National Security Department for alleged secession and incitement because of online posts they had made.
Thursday | Twelve pro-democracy LegCo candidates who were previously approved to run for election received letters from electoral officers saying their qualifications to run for LegCo have been invalidated.
Friday | The Chief Executive announced that LegCo elections would be postponed for one whole year due to Covid but clearly an attempt to restrict any election backlash from the recent events. (On Sunday it was announced that current pro-democracy LegCo members may not be able to stay on during this one year vacuum, although the pro-government LegCo members would remain. The Hong Kong Chief Executive stressed that the decision is entirely up to the National People's Congress Standing Committee.)
Saturday | Arrest warrants were issued for six activists currently living overseas. One said he denounced Hong Kong independence in May last year and has not tried to solicit help from other nations to Hong Kong, which refutes the understanding that the National Security Law would not be retroactive. Another has been a US citizen for 25 years, a third said that since the arrest warrant has come out he will sever relations with his family in Hong Kong (for their safety).
Sunday | The first group of medical professionals arrived in Hong Kong from China to help carry out mass Covid testing, but some people are afraid of the personal data being collected including DNA because the Chinese government is notorious for using DNA to identify and keep track of people.