Beijing has remoulded Hong Kong in its authoritarian image after huge and sometimes violent pro-democracy protests in 2019, imposing a security law that criminalised subversion, secession, terrorism and foreign collusion.
The international non-governmental organisation closed its two offices in Hong Kong in 2021, saying at the time that the security law "made it effectively impossible" for rights groups to work freely.
Amnesty's secretary general Agnes Callamard said on Tuesday that its new section "demonstrates the resilience of our movement, our determination never to be silenced, and our commitment to defending human rights no matter the challenges we face".
The branch, which is officially registered in Switzerland, said it is the first to be "founded and operated entirely 'in exile'" and will be led by Hong Kong diaspora activists in Australia, Canada, Taiwan, Britain and the United States.
Fernando Cheung, a former Hong Kong lawmaker who joined as a board member, said top priorities include raising awareness on "prisoners of conscience" and transnational repression.
"It is clear that Hong Kong's human rights situation has continued to worsen," said Cheung, citing the jailing of a social worker last week over a police-protester clash in 2019.
"Being abroad, we have more latitude to speak up and connect with other international groups, as well as to conduct research and respond to events," he added.
As of this month, Hong Kong has arrested 322 people and convicted 163 of them under two security laws -- one imposed by Beijing, and a homegrown one enacted last year.
Police have also issued bounties on 19 overseas pro-democracy activists.
One of the named activists, Joey Siu, said she hoped the Amnesty office can "encourage Hong Kongers living in the city or abroad in a difficult time", adding that it was a "gesture of courage in response to repression".
Hong Kong defends immigration policy after UK MP denied entry
Hong Kong (AFP) April 14, 2025 -
Hong Kong defended its immigration checks on Monday after a UK lawmaker said she was denied entry, prompting a meeting between the city's number two official and a British minister.
Wera Hobhouse claimed she was the first British MP to be refused entry on arrival in Hong Kong since the former British colony was handed over to China in 1997.
Hobhouse is a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, a group that has challenged Beijing's human rights record.
Upon landing in Hong Kong on Thursday, Hobhouse had her passport confiscated, was asked about her job and the purpose of her visit, had her luggage searched and was then taken to the boarding gate, according to the Sunday Times newspaper.
Hong Kong defended its policy on Monday, with a government spokesperson saying "it is the duty of (an) immigration officer to ask questions to ascertain that there is no doubt about the purpose of any visit".
"It will be unhelpful to the person's case if the person refuses to answer questions put to him or her for that purpose," the spokesperson said, without commenting on the details of Hobhouse's case.
The incident was followed by a meeting Monday between British trade minister Douglas Alexander and Chief Secretary Eric Chan, the Chinese finance hub's number two official.
Alexander, who is visiting Hong Kong and mainland China, raised concerns and demanded explanations with "senior Chinese and Hong Kong interlocutors", the UK government said in a statement.
In a social media post, Hobhouse said "authorities gave me no explanation for this cruel and upsetting blow", adding that her son was waiting for her in arrivals.
Britain has criticised Hong Kong for clamping down on dissent and curtailing rights after the city saw huge and often violent pro-democracy protests in 2019.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Sunday said it would be "unacceptable for an MP to be denied entry for simply expressing their views as a parliamentarian".
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