continued to use Covid-19 as a pretext to October, Hong Kong’s Chief Executive arbitrarily ban peaceful assemblies. ordered the Alliance to be struck off the During the year, 24 activists were sentenced Company Registry on the grounds that the to between four and 16 months in prison for group’s goal to end one-party leadership in “unauthorized assembly” for their China threatened national security. participation in Hong Kong’s annual vigil to On 25 October, Amnesty International commemorate the Tiananmen Square announced the closure of its two offices in crackdown of 4 June 1989. Human rights Hong Kong because of risks and restrictions lawyer and activist Chow Hang-tung was posed by the NSL.10 charged with “inciting others to knowingly FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION participate in a banned rally” after publishing The Hong Kong government further tightened a social media post asking people to controls over freedom of expression in the commemorate the date in a private manner. media, online and in schools and universities. Despite allowing other large-scale open-air From January onwards, the authorities events to take place, police banned the June ordered internet service providers to sever 4th candlelight vigil for the second year access to websites that allegedly “endanger running. national security”. In July, police arrested five The national security police used extensive speech therapists for conspiracy to distribute powers granted by the NSL to investigate seditious materials after they published activists and civil society organizations. From children’s books depicting the government’s August onwards, they sent letters to civil crackdown since 2019. The government later society organizations demanding information, revoked the registration of the speech including the personal details of their therapists’ union. In August, four university members, staff and partner organizations, as students were charged with “advocating well as their finances and activities. Members terrorism” after passing a motion at a student of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of union council meeting to mourn a man who Patriotic Democratic Movements of China stabbed a police officer before killing himself. (the Alliance) and the Civil Human Rights The authorities continued to arrest, charge Front (CHRF) were charged under the NSL and imprison individuals solely for their after they refused to comply with these legitimate peaceful expression and requests. association. On 6 January, police arrested 55 The authorities targeted those civil society members of the political opposition under the groups which had broad support and the NSL in relation to their organization and capacity to mobilize people. The city’s largest participation in self-organized “primaries” in teachers’ union, the Hong Kong Professional 2020 for the subsequently postponed Teachers’ Union, and the largest pro- Legislative Council election. Forty-seven of democracy labour rights group, the Hong them were later charged with “conspiracy to Kong Confederation of Trade Unions, ceased subversion”. Under the NSL, the High Court operation in August and September and District Court imposed heavy sentences respectively in the face of “enormous on individuals peacefully exercising their right pressure” from the authorities. The police to freedom of expression. Activist Ma Chun- accused the Alliance and the CHRF of “being man was convicted of “inciting subversion” a foreign agent” and “colluding with foreign and sentenced to five years and nine months’ forces”. The police used the annual June 4th imprisonment for chanting slogans, posting candlelight vigil as evidence of the Alliance on social media and giving interviews. “endangering national security”. On 6 Student activist Tony Chung was sentenced September, the Alliance and four of its to three years and seven months’ recently resigned committee members were imprisonment for trumped-up charges of charged with inciting subversion. The police sedition and money laundering. also froze the assets of the Alliance. In Amnesty International Report 2021/22 129