Fiona has supported a campaign asking the Foreign Secretary to call for the release of 12 Hong Kong youth currently detained by Chinese authorities on the mainland. 

We are writing to ask that you urgently make the ongoing detention of twelve young Hong Kong activists in Shenzhen a diplomatic priority.

The twelve Hong Kong youths detained in Shenzhen is a watershed case for Hong Kong, which will influence whether the extradition of pro-democracy activists to stand trial in the mainland becomes a common occurrence.

If the Chinese authorities are allowed to prosecute and imprison Hong Kong activists in the mainland with little outcry or response from the international community, Beijing will take this as a signal that it can use the National Security Law as a pretext to extradite other Hong Kong activists to stand trial. Once in the mainland, the presumption of guilt and a lengthy prison sentence is all but guaranteed.

The chilling effect of this trend would be profound. Extradition hanging over the heads of young Hong Kongers coupled with the National Security Law would be the death knell of free expression.

Furthermore, four of the twelve people in detention hold British National (Overseas) status. Their treatment should therefore be a matter of particular concern for the British government.   

In view of this, we ask that you call on Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam and your counterpart in Beijing to immediately ensure the return of the twelve activists to Hong Kong, to guarantee that they have legal representation of their choosing, contact with their families, and to ensure the young people access to necessary prescribed medication. This is a simple matter of natural justice. We hope you will make it a priority.

For more information, see: https://www.hongkongwatch.org/save12hkyouths