A Hong Kong appellate court on Sept. 3 upheld the conviction of five pro-democracy activists for their failure to register the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund, created to support detained or injured demonstrators during the 2019 Hong Kong protests, under the Societies Ordinance (Cap 151). The decision exemplifies concerns about the rule of law and growing restrictions on civil society in Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong Court of First Instance on Aug. 21 found activists Chow Hang-tung and Lee Cheuk-yan, as well as the pair's now-disbanded Hong Kong Alliance, guilty of a "subversion" offense under the Beijing-imposed National Security Law (NSL). Three NSL-designated judges unanimously ruled that the defendants' advocacy for "the end of one-party dictatorship"—primarily through annual June 4 vigils to commemorate the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre—constituted "incitement to subversion." They found that there could be no "natural end" to the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP); the advocacy work must therefore constitute an incitement to overthrow or undermine China's "basic system." Chow and Lee face up to 10 years imprisonment.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) stated on June 29 that over the past years Beijing has restructured Hong Kong's governance in a way that reduces accountability and tightens social control. A "draconian" national security regime is in place, which answers to the Chinese Communist Party leadership rather than Hong Kong's people.

Amnesty International on June 3 condemned China for banning family members from visiting the resting places of people who perished in the 1989 Tiananmen Square repression. This is the first time in 37 years that the Chinese authorities have banned the visit.

A new report by the Hong Kong Labour Rights Monitor (HKLRM) details how Hong Kong's labor protections face "profound and alarming structural collapse" as national security surveillance becomes the "new normal" under Chinese rule. The report outlines the developments in administration and policy of the last year, documenting how the workers' rights movement is facing significant constrains. The "dual pressure of the National Security Law (NSL) and draconian amendments to the Trade Unions Ordinance (TUO)," which came into effect in January 2026, are leading to a "hollowing out of trade unions," says the report. (Freedom News)

Panama Ports Company SA (PPC), a subsidiary of the Hong Kong-based conglomerate CK Hutchison, commenced arbitration proceedings against Danish shipping firm Maersk A/S on April 7 over the planned takeover by Maersk of PPC's port terminals in Panama.

Hong Kong issued written notices to two organizations on Nov. 24 that the government has promulgated orders to prohibit their operation, citing "reasonable grounds" to believe that they aim to subvert state power. The organizations can make representations in their defense before the prohibitions take effect.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Aug. 6 called for the immediate and unconditional release of a former Macau lawmaker following his arrest on "national security" charges. The arrest marked the first time Macau, a Special Administrative Region of China, has invoked its sweeping Law on Safeguarding National Security.