Durian. International human rights defender group Amnesty International on Oct.25 announced its plan the close the operation of its two offices in Hong Kong by the end of this year due to city government’s national security law that won’t be suitable for human rights organizations to work there freely.
“This decision, made with a heavy heart, has been driven by Hong Kong’s national security law, which has made it effectively impossible for human rights organizations in Hong Kong to work freely and without fear of serious reprisals from the government,” Anjhula Mya Singh Bais, chair of Amnesty’s International Board said through a written statement.
The organization will move its regional operations to other offices in the Asia-Pacific, it said without mentioning the new locations.
Hong Kong authority under the new security law has been recently targeting human rights activists and any activity related to human rights issue including those who are working as journalists.
Amnesty International describes it’s “an unstable environment” for rights groups to conduct their activities in Hong Kong.
The organization has two offices – one is for domestic operations and another one is regional office, overseeing East and Southeast Asia and the Pacific. It has been working for more than four decades in Hong Kong to protect human rights.
