Today’s Times: Why the U.K. should raise the Apple Daily arrests at the UN Human Rights Council

Jun 18, 2021 | Featured

The Times

HONG KONG ARRESTS
Sir, Yesterday’s police raid on Hong Kong’s Apple Daily and the arrest of the newspaper’s editor-in-chief marked a dark day for journalists in Hong Kong and for press freedom. It was only ever a question of time before the pernicious national security law was used to silence dissenting voices in the media. It is painfully clear that the law is not intended to keep Hongkongers safe but to keep them compliant. The Chinese Communist Party is ruthlessly imposing its ideology on the people of Hong Kong and attempting to eliminate any form of dissent or scrutiny.

Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) enshrines the unimpeded right of people to access news and information. Like the UK, China now sits on the UN human rights council — theoretically the guardian of the principles enshrined in the UDHR. The UK should demand an explanation of the outrageous treatment of journalists in Hong Kong at the next council meeting.
Lord Alton of Liverpool
Vice-chairman, APPG on Hong Kong

For 18 years David Alton was a Member of the House of Commons and today he is an Independent Crossbench Life Peer in the UK House of Lords.

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