The HKG updated the 2020 National Security implementation rules today. Due process rights are further tightened, targeting civilians' electronic devices, freedom of movement, and narrowing legal professional privilege in the system. English doc here: www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/...

New event! 📆27th March 🕡6:30pm CET NoWhere BookStore, In the Hague, Netherlands host talk "Revisiting Hong Kong’s Social Movements: A Conversation with @ericyhlai.bsky.social" Details: www.instagram.com/p/DV1OGUBjLK5

Beijing’s 2026 white paper on Hong Kong dropped one day after Jimmy Lai’s 20-year sentence. As with 2014 and 2021, the timing was deliberate. My new piece in @jamestown.org’s China Brief breaks down the four things the document really signals. 🧵 🔗 jamestown.org/white-paper-...

This decision might have symbolic influences to those who aspire for greater legal engagement with the HK judiciary,but lacks substantive impacts on Jimmy Lai,who is still going to remain in jail for 20 years.And the prosecution can still file a final appeal. www.channelnewsasia.com/east-asia/ho...

Reprisal by the Chinese University of HK. This young student was even not charged. He’s just on police bail, and the school decided to dismiss him as a student. As an alumni and a former student union president, may I ask the CUHK what is your education mission today? hongkongfp.com/2026/02/13/s...

Speaking tomorrow on Hong Kong’s rule of law,press freedom, China’s United Front, and the evolving forms of resistance to authoritarian rule.Grateful to @yuenchan.bsky.social and Richard Danbury for bringing this conversation together. Looking forward to engaging with members at City St George, UoL.

This is collective punishment and broadly transnational repression. It is regrettable that the Hong Kong court is endorsing and enabling this shameful tactic. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/w...

1/In the sentencing decision, the court offered numerous technical justifications for the severe penalty against Jimmy and other defendants, but these rationales are indefensible under the liberal rule of law tradition Hong Kong enjoyed for decades.

1/Tomorrow, Hong Kong's courts will sentence Jimmy Lai and others convicted under the National Security Law. Here's what to watch:

Delighted to kick off the year as part of the Asia Freedom Fellows Programme. We began with an in-person symposium in London this January, exploring how classical liberal ideas speak to politics, governance, and economic policy in Asia.

New event! 📆6th Dec 🕡18:30 Taiwan Time HK Outlanders Taiwan hold double book talk with @ericyhlai.bsky.social "Decolonization of the Rule of Law: Hong Kong's Battle for Human Rights" Discussing the decline of the rule of law in Hong Kong. Details: www.instagram.com/p/DRHu4D1D33S/

1/This week, I was invited by a number of media outlets, including Al Jazeera, DW News and France 24, to explain the disbandment of the League of Social Democrats and the future of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement. Link here (France 24): www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/...

Joined #AlJazeera to discuss the disbandment of League of Social Democrats in #HongKong, marking the nearly total disappearance of #opposition parties and #political #pluralism in this city.

Thrilled to share my new book Legal Resistance under Authoritarianism (July 2025).It explores how legal actors engage in resistance within authoritarian regimes,sometimes quietly,sometimes boldly.Endless thanks to those who challenged,encouraged, and shaped this work.Link: www.aup.nl/en/book/9789...

1/[Why Did the HKG Propose a Security Subsidiary Legislation Today?] Just when they are reading the proposal in the Legislative Council, PRC's State Council released a new White Paper on "China's National Security in the New Age”.

1/The proposal further codifies the broad powers of the Office for Safeguarding National Security (OSNS) operating in HK, without meaningful checks by local BODIES. This reflects the rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape, espc. the growing tensions between China and the West.

1/In prayers and solidarity I am sharing my thoughts on Cardinal Zen’e bravery and faithful witness in rejecting calls for him to leave HK where the government accuses him with the draconian national security law. Thanks @WSJ for publishing this oped. www.wsj.com/opinion/card...

Were they living in democratic society, never would they have been sent to jail for what they have committed to five years ago.

Four pro-democracy lawmakers from ‘Hong Kong 47’ group freed after four years in jail

Congrats to the report launch! Delighted to provide my comments on the impacts of reprisals tactics against civil society members actively engaging in the UN human rights bodies.

I am pleased to present my contribution to the latest edited volume on Hong Kong’s autocratisation. Adapting Lord Bingham’s principles of the Rule of Law, I examine how the legal system and separation of powers have been eroded under the autocratisation process. Order here: lnkd.in/eKQ-h2wF

In 2013, I had a privilege to attend the inaugural mass of Pope Francis and the following Palm Sunday (Passion Sunday)Mass at St Peter Basilica,presided over by Pope Francis as well. His examples, words and deeds, though not everyone agree, inspire many. Requiescat in pace. AMDG.

The international community reacts to the death of Pope Francis, who was a truly global figure and influence went beyond the Catholic church.

Today we are proud to launch the Hong Kong Accountability Archive (HKAA), an independent database of videos from the 2019 pro-democracy protests aimed at protecting freedom of peaceful assembly by preserving evidence of human rights violations. Watch this promo for more on the project.

The nonprofit in an old Christian Science building archiving the internet. www.npr.org/2025/03/23/n...

My take in theStraitsTimes: “The most commonly used charge of sedition – inciting others to rebel against the authority of the government or state – has allowed the authorities “to exert greater social control, particularly over dissenting opinions and speeches.” www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-as...

We are also working hand in hand with Chinese (and HK) scholars on cutting-edge research. See our series of reports on Hong Kong's draconian National Security Law here, many of them co-authored with my friend and colleague @ericyhlai.bsky.social: www.law.georgetown.edu/law-asia/pub...

In an extraordinary display of public support, heads of state, heads of government, and foreign ministers from all over Europe and Canada are posting in support of Ukraine in response to the Oval Office meeting with Trump, Zelenskyy, and Vance.

Some good news on the foreign aid funding freeze fight! As many have seen, the DC District Court has just issued a TRO against USG. A big initial victory, but there's a long road ahead. Some initial thoughts on the ruling, but first, here is the @nytimes.com writeup: www.nytimes.com/2025/02/14/u...

The 5 that stand out for me: 1) the HK gov pressuring Google to censor a song (I used to work for Google on freedom of expression issues). I helped out with a legal analysis of this case, together with @ericyhlai.bsky.social and @tom-kellogg.bsky.social. 👇 www.law.georgetown.edu/law-asia/wp-...

Independence and autonomy are threats to autocratic regimes, even if such autonomy does not relate to political authority. Such autocrats’ anxiety often creates further grievance among the people as the former would want to overact for their own security.

1/While the PRC govt always denounces foreign interference as interfering sovereignty, the HKG’s latest announcement directly infringes sovereignty of other countries, including the US, UK, Canada and Australia. They have the right to trade, practice and speak freely.

Great podcast on the situation in S Korea with long interview of @jeanhong.bsky.social , really interesting podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...

1/New publication: My latest piece of review and analysis of HK’s NSL regime in the Taiwan Human Rights Journal., titled “Not Just About the Law”. Also feature @chungchingkwong ‘s piece on NSL and digital rights. You can download them here: taiwanhrj.org

New Report! In this report, GCAL analyzes the government’s extensive – and, ultimately, successful – drive to push leading tech companies to censor the 2019 pro-democracy anthem “Glory to Hong Kong.” @tom-kellogg.bsky.social @ericyhlai.bsky.social @lokman.org www.law.georgetown.edu/law-asia/wp-...

The new @georgetowncal.bsky.social report on the HKNSL crackdown is out! Written by me and my co-authors @ericyhlai.bsky.social and Lokman Tsui. (Will do a thread on the report's contents asap -- stay tuned!) Link here: www.law.georgetown.edu/law-asia/wp-...

1/Announcement: introducing our new report released today! We @lokman.org @tom-kellogg.bsky.social analyzes the HK govt’s extensive – and, ultimately, successful – drive to push leading tech companies to censor the protest anthem “Glory to Hong Kong.” georgetown.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?...

NEW REPORT: We investigate the rising trend of gender-based digital transnational repression by drawing on the lived experiences of 85 women human rights defenders living in exile across the globe. Read the full report: citizenlab.ca/2024/12/the-...

Great announcement: happy to contribute to an upcoming edited volume on politics of NSL-era Hong KongMy chapter focuses on judicial independence and the rule of law in NSL-era Hong Kong. See the description of the book here. It will be out next April! www.routledge.com/Hong-Kong-Po...

Asked by handpicked judge, Alex Lee, whether he was worried about possibly contravening the security law, Jimmy Lai said: "If I had any worries, I did not think about them... "I [would] persist, stay in Hong Kong and face it."

Macron visits newly renovated Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris

A new report on how Chinese pro-PRC disinformation continues to spread on supposedly independent news websites around the globe, from Google's Threat Analysis Group. cloud.google.com/blog/topics/...

🤔 The case of Hungary shows how autocrats can rig elections legally, using legislative majorities to change the law and neutralize the opposition at every turn, no matter what strategy they adopt. www.journalofdemocra...

If you are in London next week, join us in this timely symposium about NSL-era Hong Kong, featuring outstanding scholars in law, economy and society of Hong Kong. We thank SOAS China Institute and Georgetown Center for Asian Law for cohosting it. RSVP here: forms.office.com/pages/respon...

I often feel powerlessness. But in transnational we have the power to narrate our struggle and own our stories - a building block for us to envision an alternative to the status quo and movement building. Thanks @insightmyanmar.bsky.social team for the conversation.

China on Wednesday released three Americans who have been imprisoned there for years, marking the successful conclusion of an effort by the Biden administration to secure their freedom. www.wsj.com/world/china/...

Eric Lai at Georgetown Center for Asian Law said Jimmy Lai’s evidence showed “that the charge of colluding with foreign forces under the NSL was so broad and unreasonable that [it]criminalises ordinary exchange and communications activities with [people]overseas”. www.theguardian.com/world/2024/n...

1/Joined a live interview with Mark Austin at Sky News last week. Tried my best to explain to the British audience of the significance of the 47 sentencing and Jimmy Lai’s trial. Here are my major talking points: