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{{Short description|American non-profit advocacy group}}{{Infobox organization
{{Short description|American non-profit advocacy group}}{{Infobox organization
| name = Hong Kong Democracy Council
| name = Hong Kong Democracy Council
| native name = 香港民主委員會
| native name = 香港民主委員會
| native_name_lang = zh
| native_name_lang = zh
| logo = File:Hong Kong Democracy Council HKDC Logo.svg
| logo = HKDC logo full.jpg
| abbreviation = HKDC
| abbreviation = HKDC
| type = [[501(c)(3)]] organization
| type = [[501(c)(3)]] organization
| founder = Anna Yeung-Cheung, [[Nathan Law]], [[Victoria Tin-bor Hui]], Joseph Ng, [[Samuel Chu]]
| founder = {{ubl|Anna Yeung-Cheung|[[Nathan Law]]|[[Victoria Tin-bor Hui]]|Joseph Ng|[[Samuel Chu]]}}
| tax_id = 84-2856766<ref name= 990-2014>[https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/detailsPage?ein=842856766&name=Hong%20Kong%20Democracy%20Council%20USA&city=Washington&state=DC&countryAbbr=US&dba=&type=CHARITIES,%20DETERMINATIONLETTERS&orgTags=CHARITIES&orgTags=DETERMINATIONLETTERS "IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221120753/https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/detailsPage?ein=842856766&name=Hong%20Kong%20Democracy%20Council%20USA&city=Washington&state=DC&countryAbbr=US&dba=&type=CHARITIES,%20DETERMINATIONLETTERS&orgTags=CHARITIES&orgTags=DETERMINATIONLETTERS |date=2022-02-21 }}.</ref>
| tax_id = 84-2856766<ref name= 990-2014>[https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/detailsPage?ein=842856766&name=Hong%20Kong%20Democracy%20Council%20USA&city=Washington&state=DC&countryAbbr=US&dba=&type=CHARITIES,%20DETERMINATIONLETTERS&orgTags=CHARITIES&orgTags=DETERMINATIONLETTERS "IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221120753/https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/detailsPage?ein=842856766&name=Hong%20Kong%20Democracy%20Council%20USA&city=Washington&state=DC&countryAbbr=US&dba=&type=CHARITIES,%20DETERMINATIONLETTERS&orgTags=CHARITIES&orgTags=DETERMINATIONLETTERS |date=2022-02-21 }}.</ref>
| leader_name = Anna Kwok (November 2022-present)<br/>
| leader_name = Anna Kwok
| leader_title2 = Board Chair
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[[Brian Leung Kai-ping]] (Sept 2021-November 2022)<br/>
| leader_name2 = [[Brian Leung]]
[[Samuel Chu]] (Sept 2019-Aug 2021)
| leader_title = [[Executive Director]]
| leader_title = Executive Director
| key_people = Anna Kwok (Executive Director) <br />
| key_people =
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| focus = [[Democratic development in Hong Kong]]<br />[[Hong Kong Americans]]
Jeffrey Ngo (Senior Policy & Research Fellow) <br />
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| headquarters = 1301 K Street NW, Suite 300W, Washington, DC 20005, United States

| method = [[Advocacy]]
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[[Brian Leung Kai-ping]] (Board Chair) <br />
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| revenue =
[[Alex Chow]] (Board Member)
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| revenue_year =

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| expenses =
[[Nathan Law]] (Convener, Advisory Board) <br />[[Andrew J. Nathan]] (advisor) <br />[[Sharon Hom]] (advisor) <br />[[Larry Diamond]] (advisor)<br />Thomas E. Kellogg (advisor) <br /> [[Ted Hui]] (advisor) <br />[[Sunny Cheung]] (advisor)<br />
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| expenses_year =
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| focus = [[Democratic development in Hong Kong]]<br />[[Hong Kong Americans]]
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| subsidiaries =
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| headquarters = 1301 K Street NW, Suite 300W, Washington, DC 20005, United States
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| founded = {{start date and age|2019|09|17}}
| method = [[advocacy]]
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| website = {{Official URL}}
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| revenue =
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| revenue_year =
⚫
| expenses =
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| expenses_year =
⚫
| subsidiaries =
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| founded = {{start date and age|2019|09|17}}
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| website = {{Official URL}}
}}
}}


'''Hong Kong Democracy Council''' ('''HKDC''') is a [[Washington, D.C.]]-based [[Nonpartisanism|nonpartisan]], [[non-governmental organization]] advocating for [[Hong Kong]]'s autonomy. Formed during the [[2019 Hong Kong protests]], HKDC was one of the largest groups of exiled activists following the imposition of [[2020 Hong Kong national security law|national security law]] in 2020 by Chinese government.
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'''Hong Kong Democracy Council''' ('''HKDC''') is a Washington, DC-based [[Nonpartisanism|nonpartisan]], [[non-governmental organization]] ([[NGO]]) with a stated mission of "protect[ing] [[Hong Kong]]'s basic freedoms, autonomy, and the rule of law."<ref name="The Washington Post: Hong Kong activists press U.S. to counter China's erosion of city's freedoms">{{Cite web |last1=Mahtani |first1=Shibani |date=17 September 2019 |title=The Washington Post: Hong Kong activists press U.S. to counter China's erosion of city's freedoms |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/hong-kong-activists-press-us-to-counter-chinas-erosion-of-citys-freedoms/2019/09/17/99a7d542-d8fb-11e9-a1a5-162b8a9c9ca2_story.html |url-status=live |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=18 June 2021 |archive-date=15 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221015064550/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/hong-kong-activists-press-us-to-counter-chinas-erosion-of-citys-freedoms/2019/09/17/99a7d542-d8fb-11e9-a1a5-162b8a9c9ca2_story.html }}</ref><ref name="Quartz:">{{Cite web |last1=Hui |first1=Mary |date=16 August 2020 |title=Quartz: "We are all Hong Kongers": How the Hong Kong protest movement became the world's fight |url=https://qz.com/1885749/how-the-hong-kong-protest-movement-became-the-worlds-fight/ |newspaper=Quartz |access-date=8 July 2023 |archive-date=5 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205164252/https://qz.com/1885749/how-the-hong-kong-protest-movement-became-the-worlds-fight |url-status=live }}</ref> HKDC's research and political work focuses on "educational outreach, community empowerment, and policy advocacy".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our Mission |url=https://www.hkdc.us/our-mission |access-date=2022-10-24 |website=HKDC |language=en |archive-date=2022-10-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025005122/https://www.hkdc.us/our-mission |url-status=live }}</ref>


== History ==
== Founding ==
HKDC was founded amid the [[2019–2020 Hong Kong protests|2019 Hong Kong protests]] as a platform for [[Hong Kong Americans|diasporic Hong Kongers in the United States]] to advocate for Hong Kong's democratic development and draw attention to related human rights issues. Founding members of HKDC included [[Nathan Law]], a former Hong Kong [[Legislative Council of Hong Kong|Legislative Councilor]], Victoria Tin-bor Hui, a professor of political science at the [[University of Notre Dame]], and Hong Kong organizers Anna Yeung-Cheung and Joseph Ng.
HKDC was founded amid the [[2019–2020 Hong Kong protests|anti-extradition bill protests in 2019]] as a platform for [[Hong Kong Americans|diasporic Hong Kongers in the United States]] to advocate for Hong Kong's democratic development and draw attention to related human rights issues. Founding members of HKDC included [[Nathan Law]], a former Hong Kong [[Legislative Council of Hong Kong|Legislative Councilor]], [[Victoria Tin-bor Hui|Victoria Hui Tin-bor]], a professor of political science at the [[University of Notre Dame]], and Hong Kong organizers Anna Yeung-Cheung and Joseph Ng.

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The council said their mission is to "protect [[Hong Kong]]'s basic freedoms, autonomy, and the rule of law",<ref name="The Washington Post: Hong Kong activists press U.S. to counter China's erosion of city's freedoms">{{Cite web |last1=Mahtani |first1=Shibani |date=17 September 2019 |title=The Washington Post: Hong Kong activists press U.S. to counter China's erosion of city's freedoms |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/hong-kong-activists-press-us-to-counter-chinas-erosion-of-citys-freedoms/2019/09/17/99a7d542-d8fb-11e9-a1a5-162b8a9c9ca2_story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221015064550/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/hong-kong-activists-press-us-to-counter-chinas-erosion-of-citys-freedoms/2019/09/17/99a7d542-d8fb-11e9-a1a5-162b8a9c9ca2_story.html |archive-date=15 October 2022 |access-date=18 June 2021 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref><ref name="Quartz:">{{Cite web |last1=Hui |first1=Mary |date=16 August 2020 |title=Quartz: "We are all Hong Kongers": How the Hong Kong protest movement became the world's fight |url=https://qz.com/1885749/how-the-hong-kong-protest-movement-became-the-worlds-fight/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205164252/https://qz.com/1885749/how-the-hong-kong-protest-movement-became-the-worlds-fight |archive-date=5 December 2022 |access-date=8 July 2023 |newspaper=Quartz}}</ref> and conducted research and political work on "educational outreach, community empowerment, and policy advocacy".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our Mission |url=https://www.hkdc.us/our-mission |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025005122/https://www.hkdc.us/our-mission |archive-date=2022-10-25 |access-date=2022-10-24 |website=HKDC |language=en}}</ref>


In September 2021, [[Storming of the Legislative Council Complex#Admiralty Declaration|Brian Leung Kai-ping]] became HKDC executive director and [[Alex Chow|Alex Chow Yong-kang]] became board chair.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-22 |title=Former Occupy activist takes helm of Washington-based Hong Kong advocacy group |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3149695/former-occupy-activist-takes-helm-washington-based-hong |access-date=2021-10-21 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en |archive-date=2022-07-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702072107/https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3149695/former-occupy-activist-takes-helm-washington-based-hong |url-status=live }}</ref> In November 2022, Anna Kwok was appointed executive director, with Leung taking over as board chair and Chow remaining on the board.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Onward and Upward: Team Changes Ahead of 2023 |url=https://www.hkdc.us/press-release/onward-and-upward:-team-changes-ahead-of-2023 |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=HKDC |language=en}}</ref>
In September 2021, [[Storming of the Legislative Council Complex#Admiralty Declaration|Brian Leung Kai-ping]] became HKDC executive director and [[Alex Chow|Alex Chow Yong-kang]] became board chair.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-22 |title=Former Occupy activist takes helm of Washington-based Hong Kong advocacy group |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3149695/former-occupy-activist-takes-helm-washington-based-hong |access-date=2021-10-21 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en |archive-date=2022-07-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702072107/https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3149695/former-occupy-activist-takes-helm-washington-based-hong |url-status=live }}</ref> In November 2022, Anna Kwok was appointed executive director, with Leung taking over as board chair and Chow remaining on the board.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Onward and Upward: Team Changes Ahead of 2023 |url=https://www.hkdc.us/press-release/onward-and-upward:-team-changes-ahead-of-2023 |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=HKDC |language=en}}</ref>


== Advocacy work ==
== Advocacy ==
Since its launch, HKDC has advocated for the passage of the [[Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act]], PROTECT Hong Kong Act, [[Hong Kong Autonomy Act]],<ref name="SCMP: US bill on Hong Kong democracy, which has angered China, gets approval in House and Senate committees">{{Cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3030393/us-bill-hong-kong-democracy-which-has-angered-china-gets-approval|title=SCMP: US bill on Hong Kong democracy, which has angered China, gets approval in House and Senate committees|newspaper=SCMP|date=26 September 2019|last1=Delaney|first1=Robert|access-date=18 June 2021|archive-date=1 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901160906/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3030393/us-bill-hong-kong-democracy-which-has-angered-china-gets-approval|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Roll Call: House passes trio of measures supporting Hong Kong protesters">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rollcall.com/2019/10/15/house-passes-trio-of-measures-supporting-hong-kong-protesters|title=Roll Call: House passes trio of measures supporting Hong Kong protesters|newspaper=Roll Call|date=15 October 2019|last1=Oswald|first1=Rachel|access-date=18 June 2021|archive-date=19 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819012535/https://rollcall.com/2019/10/15/house-passes-trio-of-measures-supporting-hong-kong-protesters/|url-status=live}}</ref> economic sanctions and visa bans on Chinese and Hong Kong officials undermining Hong Kong's autonomy and human rights,<ref name="Vox: US sanctions Chinese officials over the latest crackdown on Hong Kong's democracy">{{Cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/2021/3/17/22335622/us-sanctions-chinese-officials-crackdown-hong-kong-democracy|title=Vox: US sanctions Chinese officials over the latest crackdown on Hong Kong's democracy|newspaper=Vox|date=17 March 2021|last1=Kirby|first1=Jen|access-date=20 June 2021|archive-date=7 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207085852/https://www.vox.com/2021/3/17/22335622/us-sanctions-chinese-officials-crackdown-hong-kong-democracy|url-status=live}}</ref> and additional legislation in Congress related to immigration and refugee protection for Hong Kongers.<ref name="Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration Hearing: Supporting Hong Kong's Pro-Democracy Movement Through U.S. Refugee Policy">{{Cite web|url=https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/meetings/supporting-hong-kongs-pro-democracy-movement-through-us-refugee-policy|title=Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration Hearing: Supporting Hong Kong's Pro-Democracy Movement Through U.S. Refugee Policy, December 16, 2020|date=16 December 2020|access-date=21 June 2021|archive-date=16 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221216200650/https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/meetings/supporting-hong-kongs-pro-democracy-movement-through-us-refugee-policy|url-status=live}}</ref> HKDC's staff, board members, and advisors have also testified in front of the [[United States Congress]].<ref name="CSPAN: Hong Kong Democracy Council">{{Cite web|url=https://www.c-span.org/organization/?138438/Hong-Kong-Democracy-Council|title=CSPAN: Hong Kong Democracy Council|access-date=2021-06-18|archive-date=2021-06-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624202038/https://www.c-span.org/organization/?138438/Hong-Kong-Democracy-Council|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Congressional-Executive Commission on China and Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Joint Hearing: China, Genocide, and the Olympics">{{Cite web|url=https://humanrightscommission.house.gov/events/hearings/china-genocide-and-olympics|title=Congressional-Executive Commission on China and Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Joint Hearing: China, Genocide, and the Olympics, May 18, 2021|date=18 May 2021|access-date=20 June 2021|archive-date=8 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708190621/https://humanrightscommission.house.gov/events/hearings/china-genocide-and-olympics|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Written Testimony of Anna Kwok |url=https://chrissmith.house.gov/uploadedfiles/hong_kong_hearing_anna_kwok_testimony.pdf |access-date=September 28, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=September 12, 2023 |title=Written Testimony of Anna Kwok, Executive Director, Hong Kong Democracy Council; Mason L. Wong, Research Fellow, Hong Kong Democracy Council |url=https://www.cecc.gov/sites/chinacommission.house.gov/files/documents/HKDC%20Joint%20Written%20Testimony%20for%20CECC.pdf |access-date=September 28, 2023 |website=Congressional Executive Commission on China}}</ref>
Since its launch, HKDC has advocated for the passage of the [[Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act]], PROTECT Hong Kong Act, [[Hong Kong Autonomy Act]],<ref name="SCMP: US bill on Hong Kong democracy, which has angered China, gets approval in House and Senate committees">{{Cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3030393/us-bill-hong-kong-democracy-which-has-angered-china-gets-approval|title=SCMP: US bill on Hong Kong democracy, which has angered China, gets approval in House and Senate committees|newspaper=SCMP|date=26 September 2019|last1=Delaney|first1=Robert|access-date=18 June 2021|archive-date=1 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901160906/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3030393/us-bill-hong-kong-democracy-which-has-angered-china-gets-approval|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Roll Call: House passes trio of measures supporting Hong Kong protesters">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rollcall.com/2019/10/15/house-passes-trio-of-measures-supporting-hong-kong-protesters|title=Roll Call: House passes trio of measures supporting Hong Kong protesters|newspaper=Roll Call|date=15 October 2019|last1=Oswald|first1=Rachel|access-date=18 June 2021|archive-date=19 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819012535/https://rollcall.com/2019/10/15/house-passes-trio-of-measures-supporting-hong-kong-protesters/|url-status=live}}</ref> economic sanctions and visa bans on Chinese and Hong Kong officials undermining Hong Kong's autonomy and human rights,<ref name="Vox: US sanctions Chinese officials over the latest crackdown on Hong Kong's democracy">{{Cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/2021/3/17/22335622/us-sanctions-chinese-officials-crackdown-hong-kong-democracy|title=Vox: US sanctions Chinese officials over the latest crackdown on Hong Kong's democracy|newspaper=Vox|date=17 March 2021|last1=Kirby|first1=Jen|access-date=20 June 2021|archive-date=7 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207085852/https://www.vox.com/2021/3/17/22335622/us-sanctions-chinese-officials-crackdown-hong-kong-democracy|url-status=live}}</ref> and additional legislation in Congress related to immigration and refugee protection for Hong Kongers.<ref name="Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration Hearing: Supporting Hong Kong's Pro-Democracy Movement Through U.S. Refugee Policy">{{Cite web|url=https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/meetings/supporting-hong-kongs-pro-democracy-movement-through-us-refugee-policy|title=Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration Hearing: Supporting Hong Kong's Pro-Democracy Movement Through U.S. Refugee Policy, December 16, 2020|date=16 December 2020|access-date=21 June 2021|archive-date=16 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221216200650/https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/meetings/supporting-hong-kongs-pro-democracy-movement-through-us-refugee-policy|url-status=live}}</ref> HKDC's staff, board members, and advisors have also testified in front of the [[United States Congress]].<ref name="CSPAN: Hong Kong Democracy Council">{{Cite web|url=https://www.c-span.org/organization/?138438/Hong-Kong-Democracy-Council|title=CSPAN: Hong Kong Democracy Council|access-date=2021-06-18|archive-date=2021-06-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624202038/https://www.c-span.org/organization/?138438/Hong-Kong-Democracy-Council|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Congressional-Executive Commission on China and Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Joint Hearing: China, Genocide, and the Olympics">{{Cite web|url=https://humanrightscommission.house.gov/events/hearings/china-genocide-and-olympics|title=Congressional-Executive Commission on China and Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Joint Hearing: China, Genocide, and the Olympics, May 18, 2021|date=18 May 2021|access-date=20 June 2021|archive-date=8 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708190621/https://humanrightscommission.house.gov/events/hearings/china-genocide-and-olympics|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Written Testimony of Anna Kwok |url=https://chrissmith.house.gov/uploadedfiles/hong_kong_hearing_anna_kwok_testimony.pdf |access-date=September 28, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=September 12, 2023 |title=Written Testimony of Anna Kwok, Executive Director, Hong Kong Democracy Council; Mason L. Wong, Research Fellow, Hong Kong Democracy Council |url=https://www.cecc.gov/sites/chinacommission.house.gov/files/documents/HKDC%20Joint%20Written%20Testimony%20for%20CECC.pdf |access-date=September 28, 2023 |website=Congressional Executive Commission on China}}</ref> HKDC has also pushed for the broad-based Hong Kong People's Freedom and Choice Act and the immigration-focused Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Policy Fact Sheets |url=https://www.hkdc.us/policy-fact-sheets |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=HKDC |language=en |archive-date=2022-10-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025005104/https://www.hkdc.us/policy-fact-sheets |url-status=live }}</ref>


In January 2021, HKDC assisted in the rescue of five Hong Kong protesters, aged 18–26 who fled by boat to [[Taiwan]] in July 2020 soon after the national security law was imposed,<ref name="The Wall Street Journal: How Five Hong Kong Protesters Escaped by Speedboat">{{Cite news |last1=Chao |first1=Deng |last2=Wang |first2=Joyu |date=20 June 2020 |title=The Wall Street Journal: How Five Hong Kong Protesters Escaped by Speedboat |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-five-hong-kong-protesters-escaped-by-speedboat-found-freedom-in-the-u-s-11624183200/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221121204107/https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-five-hong-kong-protesters-escaped-by-speedboat-found-freedom-in-the-u-s-11624183200 |archive-date=21 November 2022 |access-date=20 June 2021 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref> by sponsoring the first set of [[humanitarian parole]] visas to the US.<ref name="The New York Times: Protesters Who Fled Hong Kong Arrive in U.S., Seeking Asylum">{{Cite news |last1=Forsythe |first1=Michael |date=16 January 2021 |title=The New York Times, Protesters Who Fled Hong Kong Arrive in U.S., Seeking Asylum |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/16/world/asia/hong-kong-us-asylum.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809033112/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/16/world/asia/hong-kong-us-asylum.html |archive-date=9 August 2021 |access-date=20 June 2021 |newspaper=New York Times}}</ref>
=== Hong Kong-related legislation ===
HKDC has issued statements & briefing documents in support of the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, the PROTECT Hong Kong Act, and the Hong Kong Autonomy Act, as well as various iterations of the broad-based Hong Kong People's Freedom and Choice Act and the immigration-focused Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Policy Fact Sheets |url=https://www.hkdc.us/policy-fact-sheets |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=HKDC |language=en |archive-date=2022-10-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025005104/https://www.hkdc.us/policy-fact-sheets |url-status=live }}</ref>


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Along with 52 Hong Kong diaspora groups and advocacy organizations, HKDC urged President [[Joe Biden]] to bar Hong Kong [[Chief Executive of Hong Kong|Chief Executive]] [[John Lee Ka-chiu|John Lee]] from attending the 2023 [[Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation]] meeting in San Francisco,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Letter to President Biden on Sanctioned John Lee's Potential Entry Into the U.S. |url=https://www.hkdc.us/press-release/open-letter-to-president-biden-on-sanctioned-john-lee%E2%80%99s-potential-entry-into-the-u.s.- |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=HKDC |language=en}}</ref> citing concerns about ongoing human rights violations in Hong Kong, as well as existing US sanctions and travel ban imposed on Lee in 2020. Washington Post later reported that the White House had decided to bar Lee from attending the APEC summit.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nakashima |first=Ellen |last2=Mahtani |first2=Shibani |date=2023-07-28 |title=Biden, testing Xi, will bar Hong Kong's leader from economic summit |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/07/27/hong-kong-john-lee-apec/ |access-date=2023-08-11 |work=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> However, John Lee said he received a personal invite to attend the forum, although he decided to skip it citing "scheduling issues".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-02 |title=Hong Kong’s John Lee says he received personal invite to attend APEC forum in US, despite sanctions row |url=https://hongkongfp.com/2023/11/02/hong-kongs-john-lee-says-he-received-personal-invite-to-attend-apec-forum-in-us-despite-sanctions-row/ |website=HKFP}}</ref>
=== 2021 escape of five Hong Kong fugitives ===
In January 2021, HKDC assisted in the rescue of five Hong Kong protesters by sponsoring the first set of [[humanitarian parole]] visas to the US.<ref name="The New York Times: Protesters Who Fled Hong Kong Arrive in U.S., Seeking Asylum">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/16/world/asia/hong-kong-us-asylum.html|title=The New York Times, Protesters Who Fled Hong Kong Arrive in U.S., Seeking Asylum|newspaper=New York Times|date=16 January 2021|last1=Forsythe|first1=Michael|access-date=20 June 2021|archive-date=9 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809033112/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/16/world/asia/hong-kong-us-asylum.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The five men, age 18–26, fled by boat to [[Taiwan]] in July 2020, soon after China imposed the [[2020 Hong Kong national security law|Hong Kong national security law]] on June 30, 2020.<ref name="The Wall Street Journal: How Five Hong Kong Protesters Escaped by Speedboat">{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-five-hong-kong-protesters-escaped-by-speedboat-found-freedom-in-the-u-s-11624183200/|title=The Wall Street Journal: How Five Hong Kong Protesters Escaped by Speedboat|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=20 June 2020|last1=Chao|first1=Deng|last2=Wang|first2=Joyu|access-date=20 June 2021|archive-date=21 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221121204107/https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-five-hong-kong-protesters-escaped-by-speedboat-found-freedom-in-the-u-s-11624183200|url-status=dead}}</ref>


⚫
The group also made a submission to the [[United Nations Human Rights Council]]'s [[Universal Periodic Review]] focusing on issues under the [[International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights]] raised by the Hong Kong government's restrictions on freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, freedom of association, and the right to political participation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=International Advocacy |url=https://www.hkdc.us/international-advocacy |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=HKDC |language=en}}</ref>
=== Response from Chinese government ===
⚫
Chinese authorities imposed sanctions on HKDC and others in July 2021, in response to the implementation of U.S. sanctions on Chinese and Hong Kong officials advocated for by HKDC.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Munroe |first1=Tony |last2=Martina |first2=Michael |title=China retaliates with sanctions on former U.S. commerce secretary Ross, others |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-imposes-counter-sanctions-former-us-commerce-secretary-ross-others-2021-07-23/ |website=Reuters |access-date=21 February 2022 |date=23 July 2021 |archive-date=18 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221218150918/https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-imposes-counter-sanctions-former-us-commerce-secretary-ross-others-2021-07-23/ |url-status=live }}</ref>


⚫
=== Research ===
=== 2023 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting ===
HKDC's research team publishes reports on [[IT-backed authoritarianism|digital authoritarianism]], [[Political repression|political persecution]], and other human rights issues in Hong Kong. The team constructed a database on political prisoners in Hong Kong, tracking arrests that were politically motivated by the security law as well as existing statutes concerning unlawful assembly, incitement, and rioting.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Political Prisoner Database |url=https://www.hkdc.us/political-prisoner-database |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025005124/https://www.hkdc.us/political-prisoner-database |archive-date=2022-10-25 |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=HKDC |language=en}}</ref> According to HKDC, there are 1,591 political prisoners in Hong Kong as of August 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hong Kong Political Prisoners |url=https://www.hkdc.us/hong-kong-political-prisoners |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025005104/https://www.hkdc.us/hong-kong-political-prisoners |archive-date=2022-10-25 |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=HKDC |language=en}}</ref>
⚫
On June 30, 2023, HKDC issued a joint letter, co-signed by 52 Hong Kong diaspora groups, advocacy organizations, and NGOs, urging President [[Joe Biden]] to bar Hong Kong [[Chief Executive of Hong Kong|Chief Executive]] [[John Lee Ka-chiu]] from attending the 2023 [[Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation]] meeting in San Francisco,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Letter to President Biden on Sanctioned John Lee's Potential Entry Into the U.S. |url=https://www.hkdc.us/press-release/open-letter-to-president-biden-on-sanctioned-john-lee%E2%80%99s-potential-entry-into-the-u.s.- |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=HKDC |language=en}}</ref> citing concerns about ongoing human rights violations in Hong Kong, as well as existing US sanctions and travel ban imposed on Lee in 2020. On July 27, 2023, the Washington Post reported that the White House had decided to bar Lee from attending the APEC summit.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nakashima |first=Ellen |last2=Mahtani |first2=Shibani |date=2023-07-28 |title=Biden, testing Xi, will bar Hong Kong's leader from economic summit |language=en-US |work=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/07/27/hong-kong-john-lee-apec/ |access-date=2023-08-11 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>


⚫
In collaboration with the [[Open Technology Fund]] and cybersecurity research firm 7ASecurity,<ref>{{Cite web |title=7ASecurity, OTF Red Team Lab partner, completes Blackbox Pentest and Privacy Audit of LeaveHomeSafe App |url=https://www.opentech.fund/news/7asecurity-otf-red-team-lab-partner-completes-blackbox-pentest-and-privacy-audit-of-leavehomesafe-app/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025005133/https://www.opentech.fund/news/7asecurity-otf-red-team-lab-partner-completes-blackbox-pentest-and-privacy-audit-of-leavehomesafe-app/ |archive-date=2022-10-25 |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=Open Technology Fund |language=en}}</ref> HKDC audited [[LeaveHomeSafe]], Hong Kong government's COVID-19 [[COVID-19 apps|contact tracing]] app, which found a number of major vulnerabilities in the LeaveHomeSafe app, contradicting claims by the government that the app had been previously audited to address concerns over users' data privacy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LeaveHomeSafe |url=https://www.leavehomesafe.gov.hk/en/technical-document/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025005104/https://www.leavehomesafe.gov.hk/en/technical-document/ |archive-date=2022-10-25 |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=www.leavehomesafe.gov.hk |language=en}}</ref>
=== Response from Hong Kong government ===
⚫
On July 3, 2023, Hong Kong authorities issued an arrest warrant for eight overseas activists including HKDC's executive director Anna Kwok, citing efforts by overseas activists encouraging Western countries to sanction Hong Kong officials.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pomfret |first=James |last2=Pang |first2=Jessie |last3=Pomfret |first3=James |last4=Pang |first4=Jessie |date=2023-07-03 |title=Hong Kong police issue arrest warrants for eight overseas activists |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/hong-kong-police-issue-arrest-warrants-eight-activists-2023-07-03/ |access-date=2023-08-11}}</ref> In response, Kwok stated in a press release that she would "not back down" and reiterated a call for the United States to sanction Hong Kong legal officials working on National Security Law cases.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Anna Kwok on the Arrest Warrant |url=https://www.hkdc.us/press-release/anna-kwok-on-the-arrest-warrant |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=HKDC |language=en}}</ref>


⚫
In a report released in October 2022, HKDC criticized executives that attended [[Global Financial Leaders' Investment Summit]] were "lending credibility" to the whitewashing campaign of Hong Kong authorities and to John Lee.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Business Not As Usual |url=https://www.hkdc.us/business-not-as-usual |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025182158/https://www.hkdc.us/business-not-as-usual |archive-date=2022-10-25 |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=HKDC |language=en}}</ref> It also launched a database tracking international companies' cooperation with the Hong Kong government. Soon after, Hong Kong partially blocked HKDC's website,<ref name=":11">{{Cite web |last=Hutton |first=Mercedes |date=2022-10-26 |title=Website of NGO Hong Kong Democracy Council partially blocked in city amid fears over erosion of open internet |url=https://hongkongfp.com/2022/10/26/website-of-ngo-hong-kong-democracy-council-partially-blocked-in-city-amid-fears-over-erosion-of-open-internet/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708190621/https://hongkongfp.com/2022/10/26/website-of-ngo-hong-kong-democracy-council-partially-blocked-in-city-amid-fears-over-erosion-of-open-internet/ |archive-date=2023-07-08 |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=Hong Kong Free Press HKFP |language=en-GB}}</ref> which was condemned by the group for eroding freedom of Hong Kong.<ref name=":11" />
=== United Nations advocacy ===
⚫
In July 2023, HKDC made a submission to the [[United Nations Human Rights Council]]'s [[Universal Periodic Review]] focusing on issues under the [[International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights]] raised by the Hong Kong government's restrictions on freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, freedom of association, and the right to political participation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=International Advocacy |url=https://www.hkdc.us/international-advocacy |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=HKDC |language=en}}</ref>


⚫
HKDC also alleged the [[Hong Kong Trade Development Council]] acts as a "white glove operation" to facilitate the Hong Kong government's activities in the United States, including lobbying against human rights legislation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hong Kong government 'spends millions' to advance Beijing's interests in Washington |url=https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/hong-kong-us-lobby-07062023143845.html |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=Radio Free Asia |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Counter-lobby Confidential |url=https://www.hkdc.us/the-counter-lobby-confidential |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=HKDC |language=en}}</ref> The group published a database with details on interactions between U.S. officials and Hong Kong government lobbyists and the registered lobbyists for the Hong Kong government.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Airtable {{!}} Everyone's app platform |url=https://airtable.com/shrjvfEzI8Zvu37WZ/tbloaL1bPLH2eLtam/viwSsmrAEce4wza8J?backgroundColor=yellow&blocks=hide |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=Airtable |language=en}}</ref>
⚫
== Research ==
HKDC maintains a research team, which publishes reports on [[IT-backed authoritarianism|digital authoritarianism]], [[Political repression|political persecution]], and other human rights issues in Hong Kong.


=== Political prisoners in Hong Kong ===
=== Community engagement ===
HKDC maintains a publicly available database of political prisoners in Hong Kong, tracking politically motivated arrests made under the [[2020 Hong Kong national security law|National Security Law]] as well as existing statutes concerning unlawful assembly, incitement, and rioting.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Political Prisoner Database |url=https://www.hkdc.us/political-prisoner-database |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=HKDC |language=en |archive-date=2022-10-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025005124/https://www.hkdc.us/political-prisoner-database |url-status=live }}</ref> According to HKDC, there are 1,591 political prisoners in Hong Kong as of August 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hong Kong Political Prisoners |url=https://www.hkdc.us/hong-kong-political-prisoners |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=HKDC |language=en |archive-date=2022-10-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025005104/https://www.hkdc.us/hong-kong-political-prisoners |url-status=live }}</ref>
HKDC has stated an interest in serving as a [[Diaspora|diaspora-building]] organization for Hong Kong immigrants and refugees in the United States. In the past, HKDC has funded a number of Hong Kong diaspora-related events and business projects.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Community Seed Fund Program |url=https://www.hkdc.us/community-seed-fund-program |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025005114/https://www.hkdc.us/community-seed-fund-program |archive-date=2022-10-25 |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=HKDC |language=en}}</ref> It hosted screening tour in 20 cities for [[Revolution of Our Times]], a 2021 documentary about the large scale protests that was banned in Hong Kong.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Revolution of Our Times |url=https://www.hkdc.us/revolution-of-our-times |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025005107/https://www.hkdc.us/revolution-of-our-times |archive-date=2022-10-25 |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=HKDC |language=en}}</ref>


⚫
In July 2022, HKDC partnered with [[Stand with Hong Kong|Stand With Hong Kong]] to host a 3-day summit of Hong Kong diaspora activists, human rights researchers, and China policy experts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hong Kong Summit |url=https://www.hkdc.us/hong-kong-summit |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025005125/https://www.hkdc.us/hong-kong-summit |archive-date=2022-10-25 |access-date=2022-10-24 |website=HKDC |language=en}}</ref> A second Hong Kong Summit was held in July 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hong Kong Summit 2023 |url=https://www.hkdc.us/hong-kong-summit-2023 |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=HKDC |language=en}}</ref>
=== Data privacy in Hong Kong ===
⚫
In collaboration with the [[Open Technology Fund]] and cybersecurity research firm 7ASecurity, HKDC conducted a penetration test and privacy audit of the Hong Kong government's [[LeaveHomeSafe]] COVID-19 [[COVID-19 apps|contact tracing]] app.<ref>{{Cite web |title=7ASecurity, OTF Red Team Lab partner, completes Blackbox Pentest and Privacy Audit of LeaveHomeSafe App |url=https://www.opentech.fund/news/7asecurity-otf-red-team-lab-partner-completes-blackbox-pentest-and-privacy-audit-of-leavehomesafe-app/ |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=Open Technology Fund |language=en |archive-date=2022-10-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025005133/https://www.opentech.fund/news/7asecurity-otf-red-team-lab-partner-completes-blackbox-pentest-and-privacy-audit-of-leavehomesafe-app/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The report found a number of major vulnerabilities in the LeaveHomeSafe app, contradicting claims by the Hong Kong government that the app had been previously audited to address concerns over users' data privacy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LeaveHomeSafe |url=https://www.leavehomesafe.gov.hk/en/technical-document/ |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=www.leavehomesafe.gov.hk |language=en |archive-date=2022-10-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025005104/https://www.leavehomesafe.gov.hk/en/technical-document/ |url-status=live }}</ref>


== Members ==
=== Global Financial Leaders' Investment Summit ===
'''Executive Director'''
⚫
On 25 October 2022, HKDC released a report titled "Business Not As Usual," which criticized executives going to the [[Global Financial Leaders' Investment Summit]] (GFLIS) and stating that global finance leaders attending the summit would be "lending credibility not only to the government's whitewashing campaign, but also to Beijing's handpicked Chief Executive of Hong Kong, John Lee, who is scheduled to open the GFLIS with 'welcoming remarks.'"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Business Not As Usual |url=https://www.hkdc.us/business-not-as-usual |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=HKDC |language=en |archive-date=2022-10-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025182158/https://www.hkdc.us/business-not-as-usual |url-status=live }}</ref> On the same day, HKDC launched a database tracking international companies' cooperation with the Hong Kong government. Hours after the report and database were published, the Hong Kong government blocked portions of HKDC's website on some of Hong Kong's major mobile networks and internet service providers.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web |last=Hutton |first=Mercedes |date=2022-10-26 |title=Website of NGO Hong Kong Democracy Council partially blocked in city amid fears over erosion of open internet |url=https://hongkongfp.com/2022/10/26/website-of-ngo-hong-kong-democracy-council-partially-blocked-in-city-amid-fears-over-erosion-of-open-internet/ |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=Hong Kong Free Press HKFP |language=en-GB |archive-date=2023-07-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708190621/https://hongkongfp.com/2022/10/26/website-of-ngo-hong-kong-democracy-council-partially-blocked-in-city-amid-fears-over-erosion-of-open-internet/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In response, an HKDC spokesperson said: "HKDC condemns the Hong Kong government's concerted efforts to erode internet freedom, among the many freedoms Hongkongers have been stripped of over the past years."<ref name=":11" />


* [[Samuel Chu]] (September 2019 – August 2021, resigned)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2021-09-22 |title=Former Occupy activist takes helm of Washington-based Hong Kong advocacy group |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3149695/former-occupy-activist-takes-helm-washington-based-hong |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref>
=== Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices ===
⚫
* [[Brian Leung Kai-ping]] (September 2021 – November 2022)<ref name=":0" />
⚫
On July 5, 2023, HKDC released a report titled "The Counter-Lobby Confidential: How Beltway Insiders Do the Hong Kong Government's Bidding," which documented over 1,000 interactions between lobbyists representing the Hong Kong government and U.S. politicians and government officials.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Counter-lobby Confidential |url=https://www.hkdc.us/the-counter-lobby-confidential |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=HKDC |language=en}}</ref> The report alleges that the [[Hong Kong Trade Development Council]] acts as a "white glove operation" to facilitate the Hong Kong government's activities in the United States, including lobbying against human rights legislation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hong Kong government 'spends millions' to advance Beijing's interests in Washington |url=https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/hong-kong-us-lobby-07062023143845.html |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=Radio Free Asia |language=en}}</ref> On the same day, HKDC launched a database releasing the information of registered lobbyists for the Hong Kong government, as well as details on interactions between U.S. officials and Hong Kong government lobbyists from 2014 through 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Airtable {{!}} Everyone's app platform |url=https://airtable.com/shrjvfEzI8Zvu37WZ/tbloaL1bPLH2eLtam/viwSsmrAEce4wza8J?backgroundColor=yellow&blocks=hide |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=Airtable |language=en}}</ref>
* Anna Kwok Fung-yee (November 2022 – present)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-02 |title=Exiled Hong Kong activists feel strain after bounty imposed on them |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/exiled-hong-kong-activists-feel-strain-after-bounty-imposed-on-them/7682423.html |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=Voice of America |language=en}}</ref>


'''Board Chair'''
== Community engagement ==
HKDC has stated an interest in serving as a [[Diaspora|diaspora-building]] organization for Hong Kong immigrants and refugees in the United States. In the past, HKDC has funded a number of Hong Kong diaspora-related events and business projects.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Community Seed Fund Program |url=https://www.hkdc.us/community-seed-fund-program |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=HKDC |language=en |archive-date=2022-10-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025005114/https://www.hkdc.us/community-seed-fund-program |url-status=live }}</ref>


* Anna Yeung-Cheung (September 2019 – September 2021)<ref name=":0" />
=== Revolution of Our Times screening tour ===
* [[Alex Chow|Alex Chow Wing-hong]] (September 2021 – ?)<ref name=":0" />
In 2021 and 2022, HKDC hosted a 20-city nationwide screening tour for the film [[Revolution of Our Times]], a 2021 documentary about the 2019-2020 Hong Kong protests.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Revolution of Our Times |url=https://www.hkdc.us/revolution-of-our-times |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=HKDC |language=en |archive-date=2022-10-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025005107/https://www.hkdc.us/revolution-of-our-times |url-status=live }}</ref>
⚫
* Brian Leung Kai-ping
'''Researchers'''

* Jeffrey Ngo

'''Advisors'''

* [[Nathan Law|Nathan Law Kwun-chung]] (convenor, until August 2024)<ref>{{cite tweet |number=1825516358513164591 |user=hkdc_us |title=As of August 19, 2024, Nathan Law is no longer affiliated in any capacity with the Hong Kong Democracy Council. We thank him for the contributions he has made to our organization as convener of the advisory board since our founding in 2019. |date=19 August 2024}}</ref>
* [[Sunny Cheung]]
* [[Andrew J. Nathan]]
* [[Sharon Hom]]
* [[Larry Diamond]]
* Thomas E. Kellogg
* [[Ted Hui]]
== Response ==
⚫
Chinese authorities imposed sanctions on HKDC and others in July 2021, in response to the implementation of U.S. sanctions on Chinese and Hong Kong officials advocated for by HKDC.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Munroe |first1=Tony |last2=Martina |first2=Michael |title=China retaliates with sanctions on former U.S. commerce secretary Ross, others |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-imposes-counter-sanctions-former-us-commerce-secretary-ross-others-2021-07-23/ |website=Reuters |access-date=21 February 2022 |date=23 July 2021 |archive-date=18 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221218150918/https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-imposes-counter-sanctions-former-us-commerce-secretary-ross-others-2021-07-23/ |url-status=live }}</ref>


⚫
On July 3, 2023, Hong Kong authorities issued an arrest warrant for eight overseas activists including HKDC's executive director Anna Kwok, citing efforts by overseas activists encouraging Western countries to sanction Hong Kong officials.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pomfret |first=James |last2=Pang |first2=Jessie |last3=Pomfret |first3=James |last4=Pang |first4=Jessie |date=2023-07-03 |title=Hong Kong police issue arrest warrants for eight overseas activists |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/hong-kong-police-issue-arrest-warrants-eight-activists-2023-07-03/ |access-date=2023-08-11 |work=Reuters |language=en}}</ref> In response, Kwok stated in a press release that she would "not back down" and reiterated a call for the United States to sanction Hong Kong legal officials working on National Security Law cases.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Anna Kwok on the Arrest Warrant |url=https://www.hkdc.us/press-release/anna-kwok-on-the-arrest-warrant |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=HKDC |language=en}}</ref>
=== Hong Kong Summit ===
⚫
In July 2022, HKDC partnered with [[Stand with Hong Kong|Stand With Hong Kong]] to host a 3-day summit of Hong Kong diaspora activists, human rights researchers, and China policy experts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hong Kong Summit |url=https://www.hkdc.us/hong-kong-summit |access-date=2022-10-24 |website=HKDC |language=en |archive-date=2022-10-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025005125/https://www.hkdc.us/hong-kong-summit |url-status=live }}</ref> A second Hong Kong Summit was held in July 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hong Kong Summit 2023 |url=https://www.hkdc.us/hong-kong-summit-2023 |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=HKDC |language=en}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 08:02, 9 October 2024

Hong Kong Democracy Council
香港民主委員會
AbbreviationHKDC
FoundedSeptember 17, 2019; 5 years ago (2019-09-17)
Founder
Type501(c)(3) organization
84-2856766[1]
FocusDemocratic development in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Americans
Headquarters1301 K Street NW, Suite 300W, Washington, DC 20005, United States
MethodAdvocacy
Executive Director
Anna Kwok
Board Chair
Brian Leung
Websitewww.hkdc.us Edit this at Wikidata

Hong Kong Democracy Council (HKDC) is a Washington, D.C.-based nonpartisan, non-governmental organization advocating for Hong Kong's autonomy. Formed during the 2019 Hong Kong protests, HKDC was one of the largest groups of exiled activists following the imposition of national security law in 2020 by Chinese government.

Founding

HKDC was founded amid the anti-extradition bill protests in 2019 as a platform for diasporic Hong Kongers in the United States to advocate for Hong Kong's democratic development and draw attention to related human rights issues. Founding members of HKDC included Nathan Law, a former Hong Kong Legislative Councilor, Victoria Hui Tin-bor, a professor of political science at the University of Notre Dame, and Hong Kong organizers Anna Yeung-Cheung and Joseph Ng.

The council said their mission is to "protect Hong Kong's basic freedoms, autonomy, and the rule of law",[2][3] and conducted research and political work on "educational outreach, community empowerment, and policy advocacy".[4]

In September 2021, Brian Leung Kai-ping became HKDC executive director and Alex Chow Yong-kang became board chair.[5] In November 2022, Anna Kwok was appointed executive director, with Leung taking over as board chair and Chow remaining on the board.[6]

Advocacy

Since its launch, HKDC has advocated for the passage of the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, PROTECT Hong Kong Act, Hong Kong Autonomy Act,[7][8] economic sanctions and visa bans on Chinese and Hong Kong officials undermining Hong Kong's autonomy and human rights,[9] and additional legislation in Congress related to immigration and refugee protection for Hong Kongers.[10] HKDC's staff, board members, and advisors have also testified in front of the United States Congress.[11][12][13][14] HKDC has also pushed for the broad-based Hong Kong People's Freedom and Choice Act and the immigration-focused Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act.[15]

In January 2021, HKDC assisted in the rescue of five Hong Kong protesters, aged 18–26 who fled by boat to Taiwan in July 2020 soon after the national security law was imposed,[16] by sponsoring the first set of humanitarian parole visas to the US.[17]

Along with 52 Hong Kong diaspora groups and advocacy organizations, HKDC urged President Joe Biden to bar Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee from attending the 2023 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in San Francisco,[18] citing concerns about ongoing human rights violations in Hong Kong, as well as existing US sanctions and travel ban imposed on Lee in 2020. Washington Post later reported that the White House had decided to bar Lee from attending the APEC summit.[19] However, John Lee said he received a personal invite to attend the forum, although he decided to skip it citing "scheduling issues".[20]

The group also made a submission to the United Nations Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review focusing on issues under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights raised by the Hong Kong government's restrictions on freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, freedom of association, and the right to political participation.[21]

Research

HKDC's research team publishes reports on digital authoritarianism, political persecution, and other human rights issues in Hong Kong. The team constructed a database on political prisoners in Hong Kong, tracking arrests that were politically motivated by the security law as well as existing statutes concerning unlawful assembly, incitement, and rioting.[22] According to HKDC, there are 1,591 political prisoners in Hong Kong as of August 2023.[23]

In collaboration with the Open Technology Fund and cybersecurity research firm 7ASecurity,[24] HKDC audited LeaveHomeSafe, Hong Kong government's COVID-19 contact tracing app, which found a number of major vulnerabilities in the LeaveHomeSafe app, contradicting claims by the government that the app had been previously audited to address concerns over users' data privacy.[25]

In a report released in October 2022, HKDC criticized executives that attended Global Financial Leaders' Investment Summit were "lending credibility" to the whitewashing campaign of Hong Kong authorities and to John Lee.[26] It also launched a database tracking international companies' cooperation with the Hong Kong government. Soon after, Hong Kong partially blocked HKDC's website,[27] which was condemned by the group for eroding freedom of Hong Kong.[27]

HKDC also alleged the Hong Kong Trade Development Council acts as a "white glove operation" to facilitate the Hong Kong government's activities in the United States, including lobbying against human rights legislation.[28][29] The group published a database with details on interactions between U.S. officials and Hong Kong government lobbyists and the registered lobbyists for the Hong Kong government.[30]

Community engagement

HKDC has stated an interest in serving as a diaspora-building organization for Hong Kong immigrants and refugees in the United States. In the past, HKDC has funded a number of Hong Kong diaspora-related events and business projects.[31] It hosted screening tour in 20 cities for Revolution of Our Times, a 2021 documentary about the large scale protests that was banned in Hong Kong.[32]

In July 2022, HKDC partnered with Stand With Hong Kong to host a 3-day summit of Hong Kong diaspora activists, human rights researchers, and China policy experts.[33] A second Hong Kong Summit was held in July 2023.[34]

Members

Executive Director

Board Chair

Researchers

  • Jeffrey Ngo

Advisors

Response

Chinese authorities imposed sanctions on HKDC and others in July 2021, in response to the implementation of U.S. sanctions on Chinese and Hong Kong officials advocated for by HKDC.[38]

On July 3, 2023, Hong Kong authorities issued an arrest warrant for eight overseas activists including HKDC's executive director Anna Kwok, citing efforts by overseas activists encouraging Western countries to sanction Hong Kong officials.[39] In response, Kwok stated in a press release that she would "not back down" and reiterated a call for the United States to sanction Hong Kong legal officials working on National Security Law cases.[40]

See also

References

  1. ^ "IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search" Archived 2022-02-21 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ^ Mahtani, Shibani (17 September 2019). "The Washington Post: Hong Kong activists press U.S. to counter China's erosion of city's freedoms". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 15 October 2022. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  3. ^ Hui, Mary (16 August 2020). "Quartz: "We are all Hong Kongers": How the Hong Kong protest movement became the world's fight". Quartz. Archived from the original on 5 December 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  4. ^ "Our Mission". HKDC. Archived from the original on 2022-10-25. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  5. ^ "Former Occupy activist takes helm of Washington-based Hong Kong advocacy group". South China Morning Post. 2021-09-22. Archived from the original on 2022-07-02. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  6. ^ "Onward and Upward: Team Changes Ahead of 2023". HKDC. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
  7. ^ Delaney, Robert (26 September 2019). "SCMP: US bill on Hong Kong democracy, which has angered China, gets approval in House and Senate committees". SCMP. Archived from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  8. ^ Oswald, Rachel (15 October 2019). "Roll Call: House passes trio of measures supporting Hong Kong protesters". Roll Call. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  9. ^ Kirby, Jen (17 March 2021). "Vox: US sanctions Chinese officials over the latest crackdown on Hong Kong's democracy". Vox. Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  10. ^ "Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration Hearing: Supporting Hong Kong's Pro-Democracy Movement Through U.S. Refugee Policy, December 16, 2020". 16 December 2020. Archived from the original on 16 December 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  11. ^ "CSPAN: Hong Kong Democracy Council". Archived from the original on 2021-06-24. Retrieved 2021-06-18.
  12. ^ "Congressional-Executive Commission on China and Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Joint Hearing: China, Genocide, and the Olympics, May 18, 2021". 18 May 2021. Archived from the original on 8 July 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  13. ^ "Written Testimony of Anna Kwok" (PDF). Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  14. ^ "Written Testimony of Anna Kwok, Executive Director, Hong Kong Democracy Council; Mason L. Wong, Research Fellow, Hong Kong Democracy Council" (PDF). Congressional Executive Commission on China. September 12, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  15. ^ "Policy Fact Sheets". HKDC. Archived from the original on 2022-10-25. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
  16. ^ Chao, Deng; Wang, Joyu (20 June 2020). "The Wall Street Journal: How Five Hong Kong Protesters Escaped by Speedboat". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 21 November 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  17. ^ Forsythe, Michael (16 January 2021). "The New York Times, Protesters Who Fled Hong Kong Arrive in U.S., Seeking Asylum". New York Times. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  18. ^ "Open Letter to President Biden on Sanctioned John Lee's Potential Entry Into the U.S." HKDC. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
  19. ^ Nakashima, Ellen; Mahtani, Shibani (2023-07-28). "Biden, testing Xi, will bar Hong Kong's leader from economic summit". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
  20. ^ "Hong Kong's John Lee says he received personal invite to attend APEC forum in US, despite sanctions row". HKFP. 2023-11-02.
  21. ^ "International Advocacy". HKDC. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
  22. ^ "Political Prisoner Database". HKDC. Archived from the original on 2022-10-25. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
  23. ^ "Hong Kong Political Prisoners". HKDC. Archived from the original on 2022-10-25. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
  24. ^ "7ASecurity, OTF Red Team Lab partner, completes Blackbox Pentest and Privacy Audit of LeaveHomeSafe App". Open Technology Fund. Archived from the original on 2022-10-25. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
  25. ^ "LeaveHomeSafe". www.leavehomesafe.gov.hk. Archived from the original on 2022-10-25. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
  26. ^ "Business Not As Usual". HKDC. Archived from the original on 2022-10-25. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
  27. ^ a b Hutton, Mercedes (2022-10-26). "Website of NGO Hong Kong Democracy Council partially blocked in city amid fears over erosion of open internet". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Archived from the original on 2023-07-08. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
  28. ^ "Hong Kong government 'spends millions' to advance Beijing's interests in Washington". Radio Free Asia. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
  29. ^ "The Counter-lobby Confidential". HKDC. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
  30. ^ "Airtable | Everyone's app platform". Airtable. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
  31. ^ "Community Seed Fund Program". HKDC. Archived from the original on 2022-10-25. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
  32. ^ "Revolution of Our Times". HKDC. Archived from the original on 2022-10-25. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
  33. ^ "Hong Kong Summit". HKDC. Archived from the original on 2022-10-25. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  34. ^ "Hong Kong Summit 2023". HKDC. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
  35. ^ a b c d "Former Occupy activist takes helm of Washington-based Hong Kong advocacy group". South China Morning Post. 2021-09-22. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
  36. ^ "Exiled Hong Kong activists feel strain after bounty imposed on them". Voice of America. 2024-07-02. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
  37. ^ @hkdc_us (19 August 2024). "As of August 19, 2024, Nathan Law is no longer affiliated in any capacity with the Hong Kong Democracy Council. We thank him for the contributions he has made to our organization as convener of the advisory board since our founding in 2019" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  38. ^ Munroe, Tony; Martina, Michael (23 July 2021). "China retaliates with sanctions on former U.S. commerce secretary Ross, others". Reuters. Archived from the original on 18 December 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  39. ^ Pomfret, James; Pang, Jessie; Pomfret, James; Pang, Jessie (2023-07-03). "Hong Kong police issue arrest warrants for eight overseas activists". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
  40. ^ "Anna Kwok on the Arrest Warrant". HKDC. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
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