The Justice Centre Hong Kong has released a statement calling for “calm” on the ongoing refugee debate, which has been backed by notable humans rights groups and prominent individuals from various fields.
In the statement, the Justice Centre writes that the comments surrounding refugees are “divisive and inflammatory” and “are fuelling a climate of fear and hostility towards both refugees and ethnic minorities”.
The statement acknowledges that whilst alleged abuses of the system need to be listened to, this should be tackled within the confines of international law.
The suggestion that Hong Kong could withdraw from the UN Convention Against Torture, has been described by the Justice Centre as “disproportionate and rash”… not to mention, technically impossible, since Hong Kong is bound by UNCAT under China, the actual signatory.
Over 100 organisations and 80 individuals, including the likes of HKU professor Johannes Chan, district councillor Paul Zimmerman, and American activist Noam Chomsky, have now signed the Justice Centre’s “call for calm”.
The plea for peace is partially in response to the “One Person One Letter” campaign by the Pro Beijing DAB party. The campaign aims to have “fake refugees” – a term used to describe people who enter Hong Kong illegally lodge false asylum claims – deported from the city.
Campaigners were seen earlier this week outside a mosque in Tsim Sha Tsui with a banner reading “request the government to expedite the deportation of fake refugees, set up a refugee camp” and handing out flyers which said “close the policy loophole”, HKFP reports.
Former secretary of security Regina Ip, who is apparently just oozing with compassion, previously said that the most “effective method [to deter false asylum claimants] is to put them in a closed camp”.
In its statement, the Justice Centre said, “We must not allow fear-mongering and short-sighted politics to erode human rights and the rule of law in Hong Kong.”
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