SW News: Hong Kong’s draconian National Security Law imposed by the communist government of Beijing is tightening its iron grip on free speech and dissent in the former British colony. On October 25, Amnesty International, one of the world’s largest human rights organization, announced that they are shutting down their two Hong Kong offices because of the new law.

Amnesty International is an international Non-Governmental Organization with more than seven million members and supporters worldwide. With its headquarters in Britain, Amnesty is present in over 63 countries. On Monday, the organization announced the closure of its office in Hong Kong by the end of the year. Noting that they are closing the offices with a “heavy heart,” they added that the “decision is driven by the Hong Kong’s national security law, which has made it effectively impossible for human rights organizations to work freely and without fear of reprisals from the government.”

“Hong Kong has long been an ideal regional base for international civil society organizations, but the recent targeting of local human rights and trade union groups signals an intensification of the authorities’ campaign to rid the city of all dissenting voices. It is increasingly difficult for us to keep operating in such an unstable environment,” said Anjhula Mya Singh Bais, chair of Amnesty’s board, in a Monday press release.

The closure of the office marks the end of the organization’s 40-year presence in the world economic hub.  Its rights advocacy through research and campaigns will be done from other offices in the Asia-Pacific region.

In June 2020, Beijing imposed National Security Law in Hong Kong, criminalizing secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign or external forces. Since then, the draconian law has been brutally employed to crack down on democratic and opposition voices and terminate human rights in the Island. The law was used to arrest and imprison noted Catholic philanthropist and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai and close down his Apple Daily.