A/HRC/54/61 organizations for their work on disability rights, in particular for their cooperation with the United Nations. The Committee urged the State party to ensure that persons with disabilities are able to enjoy the right to freedom of expression and opinion, including the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas, including in their cooperation with the United Nations (CRPD/C/CHN/CO/2-3, paras. 44–45). 25. On 15 February 2023, during the review of the third periodic report of China, the Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights, 21 noted that “[h]uman rights defenders, non-governmental and civil society organizations had reportedly faced difficulties when trying to attend the Committee’s meeting with the State party, as they feared reprisals. It sought assurances from the State party that no persons or organizations would face reprisals for providing it with information. (E/C.12/2023/SR.5 para. 15). 22 In his response, a representative of the Chinese delegation noted that there would be no retaliation against NGOs for providing information to the Committee or attending meetings to express their views, which was welcomed by the Committee (E/C.12/2023/SR.5 para. and 25 23 ; E/C.12/2023/SR.7 para. 78).24 According to information received by OHCHR, during the reporting period, a civil society representative was subjected to intimidation and reprisals for engaging with the Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights in relation to the Committee’s consideration of the third periodic report of China. Names and details of those concerned are withheld due to fear of reprisals. The Committee addressed the reported incident with the relevant authorities. 26. On 14 March 2023, two members of the international legal team 25 supporting Mr. Jimmy Lai and his son Sebastian Lai addressed the Human Rights Council during the dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Counter-terrorism requesting accountability for the use of the National Security Law against Mr. Lai and other journalists and writers. 26 The following day, the Government of the HKSAR issued a press release stating that it “strongly disapproved and firmly opposed the acts of the so-called ‘international legal team’ […] to abuse the United Nations mechanisms by soliciting the Human Rights Council to interfere in the judicial proceedings of Lai Chee-Ying’s case concerning the National Security Law”.27 The press release further noted that “[m]aking a statement with the intent to interfere with or obstruct the course of justice, or engaging in conduct with the same intent, is very likely to constitute the offence of criminal contempt of court or the offence of perverting the course of justice.” 27. On 16 March, an article in a Hong-Kong State-owned newspaper reported that, according to the legal scholars, the “so-called” international legal team is suspected of colluding with foreign forces to deliberately interfere with the judicial process in HKSAR in favour of Mr. Jimmy Lai, and that the intention to interfere with or obstruct justice may constitute criminal contempt of court or obstruction of justice.28 The press article also accused Mr. Jimmy Lai’s son of colluding with foreign forces and attributed to some politicians the view that the request of assistance from the United Nations of the “so-called international legal team” [...] is “evidence of collusion with foreign powers in an attempt to undermine the rule of law in Hong Kong”. 28. On 17 March 2023, special procedure mandate holders addressed the case of Mr. Jimmy Lai and the alleged intimidation and harassment against his legal team and enquired whether the offense of collusion with a Foreign Country or with External Elements to Endanger National Security as per articles 29–30 of the National Security Law excludes instances of cooperation with the United Nations, in particular its human rights bodies and mechanisms (CHN 1/2023). On 1 May 2023, the Government replied to mandate holders 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 24 E/C.12/CHN/3; E/C.12/CHN-HKG/4; E/C.12/CHN-MAC/3. https://media.un.org/en/asset/k10/k10ledzwso. https://media.un.org/en/asset/k10/k10ledzwso. E/C.12/2023/SR.7. The international legal team for Jimmy Lai and Sebastien Lai is composed of Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, Jonathan Price, Tatyana Eatwell and Jennifer Robinson. See https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1z/k1zzdvujom. https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202303/15/P2023031500686.htm?fontSize=1e. Unofficial translation of https://www.wenweipo.com/a/202303/16/AP6412603ee4b0b6003c01a2c8.html. GE.23-15378