Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued a stark condemnation on Sunday of the Chinese government's imposition of the National Security Law in Hong Kong, which came into effect on June 30, 2020. The law, according to HRW, has severely curtailed freedoms and rights that were once hallmarks of the semi-autonomous city.

Maya Wang, associate China director at HRW, expressed grave concerns over the rapid erosion of civil liberties in the region. "In just five years, the Chinese government has extinguished Hong Kong’s political and civil vibrancy and replaced it with the uniformity of enforced patriotism," Wang stated. She also called on international governments to exert pressure on China to cease its repressive activities in Hong Kong.

The controversial National Security Law has been widely criticized for stifling freedom of expression, association, assembly, as well as undermining democracy and the right to a fair trial. In 2024, both the UK government and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, voiced criticisms about the expanding definitions of national security offenses in Hong Kong, which they claimed posed serious human rights issues.

Further restrictions have been introduced, including a 2025 law that bars anyone convicted of a national security offense from organizing a union. This move followed the targeted repression of activists, with bounties issued against six exiled pro-democracy activists and the conviction of an opposition activist for sedition.

Amnesty International has also weighed in with a report highlighting the severe impact of the National Security Law on human rights in Hong Kong. The report found that "85 percent of concluded cases involved only legitimate expression that should not have been criminalized," and noted an alarmingly high rate of bail denials in national security cases.

The right to freedom of expression, assembly, and association, as well as the right to a fair trial, are protected under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). However, the application of the National Security Law in Hong Kong, rights groups argue, severely breaches these international human rights standards, prioritizing national security at the cost of fundamental freedoms.

The international community continues to watch closely as the situation in Hong Kong evolves, with many advocating for stronger measures against the Chinese government to restore and protect the freedoms once enjoyed by Hong Kong's residents.