A/HRC/60/62 5. China 19. According to information received by OHCHR, during the reporting period, two staff members of the Hong Kong Democracy Council (HKDC), Ms. Anna Kwok (Executive Director) and Ms. Carmen Lau, (Senior International Advocacy Associate), neither of whom resided in China, were allegedly the subject of reprisals for their past and ongoing cooperation with the United Nations, including in the context of the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review of China in the Human Rights Council.8 The work of both Ms. Kwok and Ms. Lau focused on human rights advocacy with the United Nations and its human rights mechanisms and with Member States. 20. On 24 December 2024, at an official press conference of the Government of HKSAR, the Secretary for Security announced the designation of seven individuals, including Ms. Anna Kwok, as “absconders” under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, and the revocation of their HKSAR passports, among other measures. The Secretary further informed that arrest warrants had been issued by the Court for all seven individuals.9 The same day, HKSAR Police issued a public appeal for information on Ms. Kwok, offering a reward of approximately 1 million HKD (around USD 130,000) for information leading to her arrest. The appeal stated that she was suspected of “collusion with foreign forces” under article 29 of the Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL),10 in connection with her meetings with foreign officials and political figures in her capacity as a member of HKDC, and her alleged engagement in other hostile actions against China, including HKSAR specifically, between September 2021 and February 2022. 21. In October 2023, special procedure mandate holders expressed concerns on the arrest warrant issued in July 2023 against Ms. Anna Kwok and six other individuals in self-exile in the context of the first mass trial under the NSL (CHN 16/2023). In November 2024, OHCHR expressed grave concern about the use of the NSL to convict and impose harsh sentences on 45 people in HKSAR in the context of the mass trial, reiterating further that the United Nations Human Rights Office, special procedures and human rights treaty bodies had repeatedly called on the HKSAR authorities to repeal the NSL. The chilling effect of this law on human rights defenders and other parts of civil society was also noted.11 22. At the 24 December 2024 press conference, the HKSAR Deputy Commissioner of Police and HKSAR Senior Superintendent identified six individuals, including Ms. Carmen Lau, as wanted fugitives who had fled to a third State, for whom arrest warrants and “red notices” had been issued. 12 Specifically, Ms. Carmen Lau was cited as suspected of “incitement to secession” and “collusion with foreign forces”, under articles 21 and 29 of the NSL. On the same day, the HKSAR Police also issued a public appeal for information offering a reward of approximately 1 million HKD (around 130,000 USD) for information leading to Ms. Lau’s arrest. The public appeal also linked the alleged crimes to her role as a core member of HKDC, citing publication of articles, delivery of speeches and dissemination of messages or videos on social media advocating for HKSAR’s separation from China, and her engagement in other alleged hostile actions against China, including HKSAR specifically, between October 2021 and May 2024.13 23. Reportedly, in February and March 2025, neighbours of Ms. Lau’s residence in a third country received leaflets containing a public appeal issued by HKSAR’s Police concerning Ms. Lau. In March 2025, Ms. Lau was reportedly targeted through the wide dissemination of a video apparently generated by artificial intelligence on social media platforms. The video mimicked her and included false statements that reportedly discredited her. 24. During the reporting period, OHCHR received allegations of intimidation against Mr. Abduweli Ayup, a Uyghur linguist and activist, during his participation in the Second 8 https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/upr/cn-stakeholders-info-s45. https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202412/24/P2024122400343.htm. 10 https://www.police.gov.hk/ppp_en/06_appeals_public/nsc/detail.html?id=20230003. 11 https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/11/hong-kong-grave-concerns-over-sentencing-undernational-security-law?utm_source=chatgpt.com. 12 https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202412/24/P2024122400343.htm. 13 https://www.police.gov.hk/ppp_en/06_appeals_public/nsc/detail.html?id=20240001. 9 20