Hong Kong activist and entertainer Denise Ho warned the UN Human Rights Council last night of a “serious attack” on the city’s special freedoms in a speech that was interrupted twice by the Chinese representative.
Speaking on behalf of the NGO UN Watch, Ho discussed the controversial extradition bill that has sparked weeks of massive protests, as well as the broader human rights situation in Hong Kong, whose special status she said was “nearing its death” thanks to Beijing’s tightening grip.
“The Vienna Declaration guarantees democracy and human rights, yet today in Hong Kong today, these are under serious attack,” Ho began (around 1:57:46 in the video below), noting that the extradition bill would “remove the firewall between Hong Kong and the interference of the Chinese government.”
Almost immediately, the Chinese representative interrupted, referring to Ho as a “delegate of the so-called NGO,” and pointedly stating that Hong Kong is a part of the People’s Republic of China.
Referring to Hong Kong “side by side with China” was an “affront to the principle of ‘One China’ and an affront to the UN Charter,” he continued, calling on the vice president of the council to admonish Ho to use “standardized UN formulation when referring to places.”
After regaining the floor, Ho continued to describe the widespread and fierce opposition to the extradition bill, saying “this anger of Hong Kong has followed years of deceitful promises.”
“Since the handover, we saw our autonomy slowly eroded, disqualification of six lawmakers, kidnappings of booksellers, and activists jailed — all proof of China’s tightening grip. Real universal suffrage is still non-existent, with the chief executive officer appointed and controlled by Beijing,” she continued.
“China is preventing our democracy at all costs.”
Ho reminded the council that the Sino-British Joint Declaration that established Hong Kong’s unique status was legally binding and registered with the UN, and accused China of “denying its obligations” under the treaty.
“The ‘one country, two systems’ [framework] is nearing its death.”
At this point, the Chinese representative chimed in again: “Just now, the speaker has made unfounded allegations to the system of ‘one country, two systems.’ We categorically reject this,” he said, asking the vice president to remind Ho not to use “abusive language.”
After again regaining the floor, Ho concluded her remarks by asking, “Will the United Nations convene an urgent session to protect the people of Hong Kong? Given its abuses, will the UN remove China from this Human Rights Council?”
After the speech, Ho took to Facebook saying, “Hongkongers are not afraid. Thank you, and add oil Hong Kong!”
https://www.facebook.com/HOCCHOCC/posts/10162126793270230
Ho has been criticized by the mainland media in the past for her high-profile participation in political activism in Hong Kong. In 2016 she was dropped from a Hong Kong concert organized by the cosmetics giant Lancôme, a move angry Hongkongers believed was a result of her being labeled “Hong Kong poison” by the state-backed Global Times.
“Apparently Lancôme has given more consideration to the sentiment of the mainland public, because the mainland boasts a much larger market than Hong Kong,” the publication smugly noted in an op-ed reacting to the news. “As a commercial company, it is bound to seek commercial gains, a wisdom it is supposed to have under complex situations.”
“Entertainers often stay away from politics,” it continued. “The more successful they are, the more they are mindful not to cross the line.”
The mainland backlash, however, has done little to diminish Ho’s public cachet elsewhere. The same year as the Lancôme flap, Ho made BBC’s “100 Women of 2016” list for her outspokenness in pro-democracy circles and her work for the LGBTQ+ community in Hong Kong.
