Jailed activist Tonyee Chow awarded the Franco-German Prize for Human Rights

Hong Kong activist Tonyee Chow Hang-tung, who is behind bars for supporting the city’s pro-democracy movement, has won a European human rights award for her contribution to the protection and promotion of human rights.

Chow, also a barrister, has been jailed after being convicted of inciting and taking part in arranging an unlawful assembly ? a commemoration of the 1989 Tiananmen Square incident in Beijing. She is also remanded over two national security violations pending trial.

She was among 12 winners receiving the Franco-German Prize for Human Rights and the Rule of Law this year, honored for their commitment to human dignity and inalienable human rights, according to an announcement made by the German Foreign Office.

The winners, announced by the Foreign Ministers of Germany and France, Annalena Baerbock and Catherine Colonna, were recognized for standing up for those whose voices would often not be heard, such as women, refugees, LGBTIQ+ people and prisoners. 

The announcement added that they are committed to the cause of justice, political participation and unbiased reporting in the media, often risking their freedom, frequently even their lives, under the most difficult conditions.

The HKSAR government on Wednesday issued a statement, saying it firmly opposed the “so-called ‘human rights and rule of law’ prize being awarded to Chow Hang-tung.”

A government spokesman said Chow was pending trial for allegedly inciting subversion under the national security law, and the awards given by the foreign ministries of France and Germany in the name of human rights and the rule of law are clearly contrary to the spirit of respecting the rule of law.

The SAR government strongly urged foreign countries to respect the rule of law, abide by international law, and adhere to the basic norms of international relations, calling for an immediate cessation of interference in Hong Kong affairs, the spokesman added.