Derek
2019-06-27 18:47:46
Dear New York Times Readers,
We are a group of concerned Hong Kong citizens. We sincerely ask for your help to deliver our demands for the rule of law and human rights protection to your governments.
In early 2019, the Hong Kong Government proposed an amendment to our current extradition law that would allow people in Hong Kong who are suspected of having committed a crime in China be sent to China for criminal proceedings.
China is notorious for its blatant disrespect for the rule of law. The Chinese judicial system has always been known to be highly politicised at the expense of fair access to justice, fair trial and sentence. Detainees commonly face torture, inhuman treatments and other forms of severe violations of human rights.
You may wonder how this piece of legislation concerns you. Business people and tourists in Hong Kong could be arrested and sent to China for trial on suspicion of having committed crimes based on accusations even without sound evidential basis. Under the proposed amendments, it is highly doubtful if our courts can remain a sufficient gatekeeper. As a result, foreigners and foreign investments currently protected by the well-established Hong Kong legal system will face an immensely heightened legal risk. We thus strive to protect Hong Kong as a safe financial centre for the world.
Our love for Hong Kong urges us to voice our views. In an undemocratic society, we can only take it to streets so here we were, millions of us in the past several weeks in June. Our peaceful demonstrations which you have seen on international media, however, were treated as violent rioting by our unelected government and the police force. Protestors were tear gassed, beaten with excessive force and shot in close range with hundreds of rubber bullets causing serious injuries.
We shall continue to urge our government to agree to our three demands:
1. To completely withdraw the Extradition Bill.
2. To release all the arrested protestors unconditionally and undertake not to prosecute any of the protestors.
3. To appoint an independent commission to investigate into incidents of police brutality.
Despite our efforts and concerns expressed by the international community, our chief of government Carrie Lam insists on keeping the bill alive by refusing a complete withdrawal.
Derek
2019-06-27 18:48:00
In view of the upcoming G20 summit and the meeting between President Trump and President Xi, we kindly ask you, people of democracies, to put this imminent issue in front of your governments. We hope that through your voices, our silenced demands can be delivered to our governments. We are immensely grateful for your standing with us in these difficult times.
Yours truly,
Hongkongers