Nathan Law Email: nathan@nathanlawkc.com Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern Prime Minister of New Zealand By email: j.ardern@ministers.govt.nz 21 October 2020 Dear Prime Minister, I would like to congratulate you on your re-election and to urge you to make a priority of your new government the introduction of a lifeboat scheme for vulnerable young Hongkongers who face political persecution and arbitrary arrest if they stay in the city. I am an activist and former elected legislator from Hong Kong. In 2016 I was elected as the youngest ever Legislative Councillor in Hong Kong, but was disqualified a few months later simply for quoting Mahatma Gandhi as I took my oath of office. I was then sentenced to eight months in prison for my role in leading peaceful pro-democracy demonstrations in the Umbrella Movement. On 1 July this year, as the Chinese Communist Party regime imposed a new draconian national security law, I left my home city, where I had grown up, for a life in exile. As one of the overseas activists whose name was recently published on an international wanted list by the Hong Kong Government, I want to pass on my appreciation for your government’s previous efforts in standing up for Hong Kong and the decision to suspend New Zealand’s extradition treaty with Hong Kong. This will ensure that no Hongkonger in New Zealand risks being extradited to Hong Kong or mainland China under this draconian law. As I’m sure you are aware, since the National Security Law came into force in Hong Kong it has been used as a tool to silence free expression, arrest pro-democracy activists, undermine freedom of academic thought, and target freedom of the press. Under the law, many young Hongkongers who have been involved in recent pro-democracy protests are vulnerable to the risk of arbitrary arrest, lengthy jail sentences, and even the possibility of extradition to the mainland China if they remain in the city. Many of them are now looking for a safe route out of the city, with the opportunity to restart their lives abroad. The UK Government has already announced a scheme for British National Overseas passport holders, but this applies largely to those born after 1997 and in many cases will do little to help those most at risk. Germany and Canada have refugee status in exceptional cases to a small number of pro-democracy protestors, but have stopped short of offering any specific support for Hong Kong activists. In July, the Australian Government announced a lifeline for Hong Kong students through the creation of a five-year graduate visa, which would allow Hongkongers studying in the country to stay and work after they graduate. As the New Zealand Government concludes discussions on the creation of a travel bubble between New Zealand and Hong Kong and the human rights situation continues to deteriorate in the city, I would urge you to consider announcing a similar lifeline scheme, which would allow Hongkongers studying in New Zealand the opportunity to work after they graduate.
New Zealand has a long track-record of standing up against systematic violations of basic human rights, and a reputation as a welcoming and open country for those in need. I hope that in the case of Hong Kong, you can help those vulnerable youngsters to seek a safe place to continue their life. Yours sincerely,
Nathan Law