Hong Kong: Information on the situation of anti-communist activists
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 January 1993 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | HKG12566 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Hong Kong: Information on the situation of anti-communist activists, 1 January 1993, HKG12566, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac1788.html [accessed 28 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Over the last few years, the Hong Kong government has used its powers to discourage activities that could have been perceived as "anti-revolutionary" by the Chinese leaders (Business International 1 Aug. 1991). In July 1989, the governor of Hong Kong gave assurances to the Chinese government that the territory would not become a "base for counter-revolutionary activities" (Human Rights Watch [HRW] 1991, 402). In May 1991, Hong Kong customs officials confiscated a replica of the Tiananmen Square "Goddess of Democracy" (Ibid.). This statue was to be used at a mass rally to commemorate the June 1989 massacre in Beijing (Ibid.). Two months later, a dozen foreign students on their way to a pro-democracy conference were denied entry to the territory (Ibid.). The Hong Kong government has also used its powers to ban films which could be perceived as offensive by the Chinese government (Business International 1 Aug. 1992). In recent months, China has been very active in gathering information on anti-communist activists in Hong Kong, including members of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of the Patriotic Democratic Movement in China (South China Morning Post 1 Apr. 1992). The Hong Kong branch of Xinhua News Agency, described by IBC Political Risk Services as "the agent of the government of China in the territory", has tried to neutralize anti-communist sentiment and to encourage the establishment of stronger cultural ties between the colony and the mainland (1 June 1992). As a result, most opinion leaders hostile to China in Hong Kong have since moderated their attacks (Ibid.)
No further information on this topic is currently available to the DIRB in Ottawa.
References
Business International [New York]. 1 August 1992. "Economic Policies." (NEXIS)
Human Rights Watch [HRW]. 1991. World Report 1992. New York: HRW.
South China Morning Post [Hong Kong]. 1 April 1992. Daniel Kwan and Kent Chen. "China: Beijing Gathering Information on Anti-Communist Activists in Hong Kong." (NEXIS)
IBC Political Risk Services [New York]. 1 June 1992. "Xinhua News Agency." (NEXIS)
