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UN experts decry Hong Kong security law in letter to China

Rare letter argues law 'infringes on certain fundamental rights'



Stanley Ng Chau-pei, Hong Kong deputy to the National People's Congress, centre, speaks to members of the media during a demonstration to deliver a petition against "American and foreign meddling in China's internal affairs" to the US consulate in Hong Kong, China, on Thursday, July 2, 2020.
Image Credit: Bloomberg

Geneva: UN human rights experts have told China the new security law for Hong Kong “infringes on certain fundamental rights” and voiced concerns that it could be used to prosecute political activists in the former British colony.

In a rare joint letter published on Friday, 48 hours after being sent to the Chinese government, they also said provisions of the new law appear to undermine the independence of Hong Kong judges and lawyers, and the right to freedom of expression.

The “open letter” reflected a detailed legal analysis of the national security law imposed in Hong Kong on June 30, which already drawn UN criticism before its adoption.

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