26th Meeting 58th Session of Human Rights Council UN Web TV
ID with Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights (cont’d) and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism (Cont’d)
International Probono Legal Services Association Limited, Mr. Jun Ho
发言内容：
The national security case of Jimmy Lai is not emblematic of the wider situation of the freedoms of speech or assembly in Hong Kong.
Mr. Lai neither represents the people of Hong Kong nor can he be described as a journalist. He is first and foremost a businessman, a politician, a billionaire media mogul whose experiences and privileges are far removed from those of ordinary Hong Kong residents.
Mr. Lai is a British citizen who at the height of Hong Kong’s protests met with senior US officials including Mike Pence, Mike Pompeo and John Bolton, which distinguished his role within the protest movement. While many special rapporteurs have raised Mr. Lai’s case for official communications, this heightened attention is largely a result of his considerable wealth which allows him to employ an extensive team of international lawyers and media advocates. His ability to access justice and garner international media coverage is inherently unequal to the common people.
Meanwhile, ordinary Hongkongers, such as those who relocated to the UK under the BNO visa scheme remain overlooked at this council as they face threats to their civil and political rights while ostensibly under the care of the British government.
This council must focus on the needs of the wider Hong Kong community rather than prioritizing the case of a billionaire who already enjoys significant resources and influence.
Its mission should be to protect the rights of everyday people,especially those without the means to advocate for themselves on the global stage.
Thank you.
消息来源：26th Meeting – 58th Session of Human Rights Council, https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k19/k19dcvneae.
