Hong Kong’s Sentencing of Pro-Democracy Leaders: A...

On November 19, 2024, 45 pro-democracy activists were punished as examples of the tight grip the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) now has on Hong Kong. These individuals, convicted and sentenced to four to 10 years in prison, did nothing more than lead and participate in activities considered standard democratic practice worldwide: holding primary elections. Despite repeated calls from the international community-including IRI- for the Hong Kong government to uphold Hong Kong's mini-constitution, the Basic Law, these convictions illustrate that now the Hong Kong government follows the CCP's direction first; all other considerations are a distant second.

The convictions are emblematic of what Hong Kong has become since the National Security Law (NSL) passed in 2020, where expressing democratic aspirations is now considered subversion. The judiciary, once a pillar of independence, is in thrall to the People's Republic of China (PRC) and an implementer of the CCP's broader agenda. As forthcoming research from IRI will reveal, systemic erosion of fundamental freedoms has spread throughout the entire system to include deterioration of the Hong Kong government's transparency and access to official data. Hong Kong now resembles just another PRC city in startling ways.

While the world watched Hong Kong's judiciary comply with Beijing's will, it is important to recognize that similar or worse scenarios take place routinely across mainland China, often without witnesses or international attention. The treatment of these 45 individuals serves as a visible warning of what happens in full dictatorships. During the PRC's recent Universal Periodic Review (UPR), for example, Beijing dismissed legitimate concerns raised by the global community. Despite its rhetoric as a peaceful global player, the PRC's actions reveal a consistent disregard for democratic principles and basic human dignity.

Hong Kong's transformation is a case study of how a vibrant, semi-autonomous region is transformed by authoritarian control. Public officials are now far less accessible, transparency is dwindling, media freedom has all but disappeared, and civil liberties are being eroded. The international community's limited response to these shifts only emboldens Beijing,. But the international community should understand this is not a localized issue. It exemplifies how the PRC's actions contradict its claims of being a responsible global power.

Organizations and policymakers around the world can help by amplifying their voices for human rights, protect dissenting voices under threat from CCP influence, and hold the PRC accountable in meaningful ways. Economic partnerships and diplomatic engagements should be predicated on tangible improvements in governance and human rights. As Beijing tightens its grip on Hong Kong, the urgency to defend democratic values globally intensifies. The sentencing of these 45 leaders is a turning point-a moment to redefine how the world responds to the PRC's growing authoritarianism. Only by recognizing and countering these actions can we safeguard democracy and uphold the principles that ensure a free and just global order.