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New Hong Kong Watchdog to Monitor Regime Rights Abuse |
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Global Stage |
China Uncensored |
A new advocacy organization focused on Hong Kong was launched this month at a reception hosted in Speaker’s House, House of Commons in the UK Parliament. The new organisation, Hong Kong Watch, is a London-based human rights organisation which speakers described as a human rights ‘watchman’ and a ‘whistleblower’ which will speak up if freedom and rule of law are undermined in Hong Kong. The event was introduced by the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Rt Hon John Bercow MP. His remarks were followed by speeches from Benedict Rogers, Chairman of Trustees at Hong Kong Watch, and the patrons of Hong Kong Watch: former Foreign Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind QC, former Labour Shadow Foreign Minister Catherine West MP, Former Leader of the Liberal Democrats Lord Paddy Ashdown, independent cross-bench peer Lord David Alton, and Sir Geoffrey Nice QC who was the chief prosecutor in the trial of Slobodan Milosevic. Whisrleblower and watchdogDrawing on the words of Lord Ashdown and Lord Alton, Benedict Rogers described Hong Kong Watch as a ‘whistleblower’ and a ‘watchman’: Benedict Rogers quoted Lord Ashdown, describing Hong Kong Watch as a ‘whistleblower’: Lord Alton said: He said: Threats to rule of law and rightsSpeakers underlined the motivation behind the launch of Hong Kong Watch, raising concerns about the ongoing threat to rule of law and the rights protected in the Sino-British Joint Declaration, the Basic Law and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Benedict Rogers delivered a message of support from the former Governor of Hong Kong, Lord Chris Patten, who said: Speakers focused on various areas of concern. Sir Geoffrey Nice QC highlighted that ‘the right to take part in the government of one’s country’ through universal suffrage is an inalienable and universal duty, protected by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Catherine West MP highlighted the importance of academic freedom, while Sir Malcolm Rifkind highlighted the significance of rule of law. twitter (@hk_watch) |
Last Updated on Thursday, 28 December 2017 08:23 |