Hong Kong Democracy Council (HKDC) is a Washington, DC-based nonpartisan, non-governmental organization (NGO) with a stated mission of "protect[ing] Hong Kong's basic freedoms, autonomy, and the rule of law."[2][3] HKDC's research and political work focuses 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]
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 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.[15]
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.[16] The five men, age 18–26, fled by boat to Taiwan in July 2020, soon after China imposed the Hong Kong national security law on June 30, 2020.[17]
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.[18]
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 ExecutiveJohn Lee Ka-chiu from attending the 2023 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in San Francisco,[19] 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.[20]
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.[21] 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.[22]
HKDC maintains a publicly available database of political prisoners in Hong Kong, tracking politically motivated arrests made under the National Security Law as well as existing statutes concerning unlawful assembly, incitement, and rioting.[24] According to HKDC, there are 1,591 political prisoners in Hong Kong as of August 2023.[25]
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 contact tracing app.[26] 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.[27]
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.'"[28] 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.[29] 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."[29]
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.[30] 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.[31] 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.[32]
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.[33]
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.[34]
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.[35] A second Hong Kong Summit was held in July 2023.[36]
