The Democracy Crisis in Hong Kong:
Special Report from Nathan Law

Nathan Law (Kwun-chung) joined us for last year’s Symposium on Democracy to share the story of the populist mass movement to protect democratic freedoms in Hong Kong. Since Mr. Law’s last visit to W&J, the central Chinese government in Beijing has imposed the National Security Law resulting in the elimination of basic freedoms and the arrest of activists, elected officials, and other supporters of democracy. Mr. Law sought asylum in the United Kingdom after China issued warrants for his arrest, and from there continues to be the leading voice for freedom in Hong Kong, meeting with world leaders and speaking with media worldwide. In 2020, he was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the world, and placed first in the magazine’s reader’s poll. At the 2021 Symposium on Democracy, he will share what has taken place over the last year and his perspective on what is needed to protect democracy across the globe.

Resources and Suggested Readings

• Watch W&J President John C. Knapp talk with Nathan Law as part of the 2020 Symposium on Democracy
• In Dramatic Sweep, Police in Hong Kong Arrest Dozens of Opposition Figures npr.org, January 2021
• Opinion: The World Must do More to fight China’s Crackdown in Hong Kong Washington Post, January 2021
• National Security Law: Hong Kong rounds up 53 Pro-Democracy Activists BBC.com, January 2021
• Exiled Hong Kong Politician Says U.S. “should be very concerned” about mass-arrest of democracy advocates cbsnews.com, January 2021
• Hong Kong Activist Nathan Law Applies for Asylum in Britain The Guardian, December 2020
• Hong Kong Security Law: What is it and is it worrying? BBC, June 2020
• Pro-democracy leader Nathan Law leaves Hong Kong CNN, July 2020
• Hong Kong Activist Nathan Law Explains Pro-Democracy Protests Yale Law School, November 2019