Since the Chinese Communist Party took control of Hong Kong with the 2019 national security law, Hong Kongers’ civil liberties have been under assault. Freedom of religious belief and conscience are central to a free society and are interconnected with the rights of assembly, association, and speech. Unlike mainland China, where the party openly and severely persecutes the practice of religion, Hong Kong has so far maintained freedom of worship. Yet these rights are increasingly uncertain in an environment where liberty itself is not guaranteed.
Please join Hudson Institute’s China Center for an expert panel with Benedict Rogers, cofounder and chief executive of Hong Kong Watch, to discuss his latest report on the impending threats to freedom of religion or belief in Hong Kong.
About the Report
Sell Out My Soul: The Impending Threats to Freedom of Religion or Belief in Hong Kong analyzes the growing challenges to freedom of religion or belief on the once-free island as defined by Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It highlights concerning trends such as self-censorship and surveillance in places of worship, the impact of the draconian national security law on religious believers and faith-based schools, and Beijing’s campaign to ‘Sinicize’ religion. The report is an early warning signal and a call to the international community to monitor threats to freedom of religion or belief in Hong Kong.
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