Drifting from the Truth

Amnesty International is leaving Hong Kong by end of 2021

Yesterday human rights group Amnesty International announced it was closing its two offices in Hong Kong, because of the national security law.

In a statement it said its local office focused on human rights education in Hong Kong will cease operations on October 31, while the regional office that conducts research, advocacy and campaigning work is expected to close at the end of the year.

Bais says Amnesty leaving because of NSL

Regional operations will be moved to the organization's other offices in the Asia-Pacific.

"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," said Anjhula Mya Singh Bais, chair of Amnesty's International Board.

"The environment of repression and perpetual uncertainty created by the national security law makes it impossible to know what activities might lead to criminal sanctions."

This morning Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor went back to work, arm in a cast and in her media briefing was ask to comment about Amnesty International leaving Hong Kong because of the national security law.

Lam claims there is still freedom of speech

"Since the enactment of the national security law, different associations and various individuals have explained or justified their actions on the basis of the national security law," said Lam. "But there is no way one could prove this is exactly the reason for their taking such a decision, so similarly I could not comment on this explanation given by an organization about their departure from Hong Kong. 

"But what I could say here is, under the Basic Law... the freedom of association, the freedom of assembly, the freedom of speech, so on, are being guaranteed, so no organizations should be worried about their legitimate operations in Hong Kong, but it has to be done in accordance with the law."

Even though Amnesty International cites the national security law for it having to shut its offices in Hong Kong, Lam claims there is no way to prove this reason, classic gaslighting, which she has been doing since the anti-government protests in 2019.

Orwell's quote still resonates today in Hong Kong

The definition of gaslighting: to manipulate someone by psychological means into doubting their own sanity.

The other day a friend posted on social media a picture of George Orwell and one of his quotes that read: "The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those that speak it."