The Hong Kong government and Beijing have strongly condemned a recent report by the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), which claims that Hong Kong’s unique system has “withered away,” rendering the city “nearly indistinguishable” from other mainland Chinese cities.
The report, published on Friday, has reignited debates over the erosion of freedoms in Hong Kong and broader concerns about human rights across China.
The CECC’s annual report focuses on human rights violations in China, with particular attention to the situations in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Tibet, and Hong Kong. It alleges that the promises made to Hong Kong under the “one country, two systems” framework, which was intended to preserve the city’s autonomy and freedoms for 50 years following its 1997 handover from British to Chinese rule, have been systematically dismantled.
“The façade of an alternative system of political governance that was promised to last 50 years has withered away as Hong Kong becomes nearly indistinguishable from any other neon-lit city on the Chinese mainland,” the report stated. It further noted that Hong Kong officials appear “more zealous” than their mainland counterparts in enforcing Beijing’s national security laws.
This critique comes amidst a broader context of international concern over the implementation of the National Security Law (NSL) in Hong Kong, which was introduced in June 2020. The law criminalizes acts deemed as secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces, and has been widely criticized for its vague definitions and broad scope. Critics argue that the NSL has been used to silence dissent and suppress pro-democracy movements, leading to arrests of activists, journalists, and opposition politicians.
The Case of Jimmy Lai
One prominent figure highlighted in the CECC report is Jimmy Lai, a well-known businessman, politician, and pro-democracy leader. Lai, a British national since 1996 and a devout Roman Catholic, has been a vocal critic of Beijing’s tightening grip on Hong Kong. He is currently imprisoned, facing multiple charges under the NSL. His case has drawn widespread attention from human rights and religious freedom campaigners around the world, particularly as he spends yet another Christmas behind bars.
“The trial of Jimmy Lai—business leader, champion of press freedom, and paragon of faith-based conscientious objection—underscores how civil rights are no longer protected, despite the traditional pomp displayed by wig-bedecked Hong Kong judges,” Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) Report 2024.
Lai’s plight underscores the broader erosion of freedoms in Hong Kong, particularly the right to freedom of expression and association.
The CECC report describes his imprisonment as emblematic of the city’s diminishing autonomy and highlights the broader implications for civil liberties in the region.
A Broader Crackdown on Human Rights
The CECC’s report also draws attention to the broader human rights situation in China, noting that violations are most brutally implemented in Xinjiang and Tibet. The report estimates that the Chinese government has imprisoned thousands of individuals for exercising their right to freedom of religion or belief.
According to the NGO Human Rights Without Frontiers, as of 2022, 2,649 individuals were imprisoned for their religious beliefs. These include Falun Gong practitioners, Muslims, Christians, and Buddhists.
In Xinjiang, the Chinese government has faced widespread accusations of carrying out a campaign of repression against the Uyghur Muslim population, including mass detentions, forced labor, and cultural erasure. In Tibet, similar allegations of religious and cultural suppression persist, with tight controls on Buddhist practices and harsh penalties for dissent.
The report’s claim that Hong Kong is now “nearly indistinguishable” from mainland cities reflects growing international concern that the city has lost the freedoms that once set it apart. Critics argue that Beijing’s actions undermine the commitments made under the Sino-British Joint Declaration, an international treaty that promised Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy and the preservation of its way of life for 50 years.
Responses from Hong Kong and Beijing
The Hong Kong government has rejected the CECC’s findings, accusing the report of being biased and politically motivated. In a statement, a government spokesperson emphasized that the NSL has restored stability to the city after the unrest of 2019 and is essential for safeguarding national security. Beijing has echoed these sentiments, dismissing the report as interference in China’s internal affairs and an attempt to undermine its sovereignty.
Pro-Beijing voices argue that the measures taken in Hong Kong are necessary to ensure law and order and to curb external interference. They assert that the city’s freedoms remain intact, albeit within the framework of safeguarding national security. However, these claims have done little to assuage concerns among international observers, who see the crackdown as part of a broader trend of authoritarian consolidation under President Xi Jinping.
International Implications
The CECC’s report adds to growing international pressure on China over its human rights record. The United States and its allies have imposed sanctions on Chinese officials and entities linked to rights abuses in Hong Kong and Xinjiang. These measures, while largely symbolic, signal a hardening stance among Western nations toward Beijing’s policies.
The situation in Hong Kong also poses challenges for the global business community. Once a bastion of free-market principles and the rule of law, the city’s evolving political landscape has prompted concerns about its status as an international financial hub. Some companies and expatriates have reconsidered their presence in Hong Kong, citing risks to personal freedoms and the business environment.
A Grim Outlook
The CECC’s assessment paints a grim picture of Hong Kong’s future as a distinct entity within China. The dismantling of its unique system not only affects the city’s 7.5 million residents but also carries symbolic weight for the international community. Hong Kong was long seen as a bridge between East and West, a place where different systems and values could coexist. Its transformation into a city “nearly indistinguishable” from the mainland marks the end of an era and raises questions about the viability of similar arrangements elsewhere.
As Jimmy Lai and others spend yet another Christmas in prison, the world watches closely.
The fate of Hong Kong serves as a litmus test for China’s willingness to honor its international commitments and its broader trajectory under Xi Jinping. For many, the city’s struggle represents a microcosm of the global battle between authoritarianism and democratic values, a contest that will shape the geopolitical landscape for years to come.
Main Image: By Studio Incendo – https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=93040016
