Press Statement
November 19, 2024
The United States strongly condemns the sentencing of 45 pro-democracy advocates in Hong Kong, who were convicted under the controversial National Security Law (NSL). This case, widely known as the NSL 47, involves individuals who were aggressively prosecuted for peacefully participating in political activities that are protected under Hong Kong’s Basic Law. Many of these individuals now face life-altering sentences, with their only “crime” being the exercise of their fundamental right to political expression.
In response to these unjust sentences, the U.S. Department of State is taking immediate steps to impose visa restrictions on multiple Hong Kong officials responsible for the implementation of the National Security Law, in accordance with Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. These measures are aimed at holding accountable those responsible for undermining human rights and democratic freedoms in Hong Kong and China.
The U.S. government calls on the authorities in Hong Kong to immediately and unconditionally release the 45 individuals sentenced today, as well as other political prisoners detained under the NSL. These severe sentences further undermine Hong Kong’s reputation for judicial independence and harm the city’s standing on the global stage.
We continue to urge the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Hong Kong authorities to cease using vague and broadly-defined national security laws to suppress political expression. We call for the restoration of Hong Kong’s core values of openness, freedom of speech, and judicial independence, which were once key to its prosperity and success.
The U.S. will continue to monitor the situation in Hong Kong closely and will remain committed to holding those responsible for human rights abuses accountable.
References:
- Hong Kong’s National Security Law: An Overview – Hong Kong’s Legal Framework
- U.S. Department of State: Human Rights and Democracy – Human Rights Reports
- The National Security Law and its Impact on Hong Kong – BBC News Analysis
