ISHR reviews China exchanges at HRC63: two exiled Hongkongers testify on transnational repression as states press for Xinjiang follow-up
In a review published in early October, the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) looked back at China-related exchanges during the UN Human Rights Council's 63rd session in September: two exiled Hong Kong human rights defenders, Carmen Lau and Anna Kwok, testified in person about the transnational repression they face for their advocacy, while France, the United Kingdom, Canada and other governments pressed China to follow up on the OHCHR's 2022 Xinjiang assessment report, and several states raised concerns over the Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress that took effect on July 1.
Why it matters
This is the first NGO review to systematically map states' China-related statements after the September Council session. The two Hongkongers' testimony turned 'transnational repression' from an abstract allegation into named cases (bounty warrants, AI-deepfake harassment, reprisals against family members), while continued calls for 'substantive follow-up' four years after the Xinjiang report show the issue has not faded from the agenda. The testimony and states' positions are drawn from ISHR's public review and have not been independently verified in full by this site.
Full report
In its early-October review, ISHR wrote that the September session refocused attention on 'restrictions on civic space in China, the human rights situation in Tibet and the Uyghur region, and the use of Hong Kong's national security laws against activists at home and abroad.' Accompanied by ISHR, two exiled Hong Kong defenders testified directly before the Council on how repression 'can cross borders and extend to their families.' [1]
Carmen Lau testified that she is among the exiled Hongkongers subject to HK$1 million bounties imposed by the Hong Kong authorities. In the United Kingdom, her neighbours received letters containing sexually explicit AI-generated deepfakes of her, urging them to hand her over to the Chinese embassy; she also described constant online harassment and rape threats. 'Speaking before you today carries real risks,' she said. 'I live with a credible fear of surveillance, harassment, and abduction because of my human rights advocacy.' [1]
Anna Kwok, also subject to a HK$1 million bounty, spoke during the dialogue on the Secretary-General's annual report on reprisals. She described the imprisonment of her 70-year-old father in Hong Kong, which she characterised as retaliation aimed at her work abroad, and cited a joint statement on transnational repression issued a day earlier by more than 130 UN human rights experts, urging states to do 'their utmost' to respond to repression targeting those who cooperate with the UN. [1]
At the level of governments, France, the United Kingdom and Canada again called on China to act on the recommendations of the OHCHR's 2022 Xinjiang assessment — which found that serious violations against Uyghurs 'may constitute crimes against humanity' — joined by the EU (with Albania, Montenegro and Liechtenstein), the Netherlands, Czechia and Sweden. High Commissioner Türk appealed for an 'urgent U-turn' on tightening restrictions on Tibetans and expressed deep concern over detention facilities in the Uyghur region. Australia, Canada, the UK, the EU, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Ireland and Germany raised concerns that the Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress could affect the cultural, linguistic and religious rights of Tibetans, Uyghurs and Mongols. The UK also highlighted recent convictions under the National Security Law, including those of Hong Kong Alliance leaders and Joshua Wong, and again called for the release of Jimmy Lai; Belgium (for the Benelux countries) and Germany urged the release of Chow Hang-tung. [1]
Verification note: this record documents ISHR's published session review. States' statements and the two defenders' testimony are drawn from that review and the Council's public records; this site has not independently verified each allegation in detail. China's responses at the Council were not covered in the review; this site will continue to follow the story. [1]
Primary sources
Links above point to the original publishers of the cited reports or assessments. Their conclusions are attributed in the text and do not imply that this site has independently verified every factual claim.