Hong Kong’s struggle for self-determination and the UK’s role

⁣ updated June 10, 2025

Hong Kong’s⁤ claim of sovereignty has never been legitimized through international law or self-determination, principles upheld⁢ by the United Nations for decolonization.⁢ According to UN stipulations, a territory can only be removed from⁤ the list of non-self-governing territories if its people freely ⁣choose independence,​ integration, or association ⁤with‍ another state.None of thes conditions were met when Hong Kong was delisted in 1972 at China’s request, without public consultation or formal objection from the UK.

anti-immigration⁣ sentiment was widespread ‍in Britain when Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister in 1979. Shortly after her election,the ⁤British nationality Act ⁢of 1981 was passed,dividing British citizenship into three classes. For Hongkongers, the‍ designation of British Dependent Territories Citizen (BDTC) did not offer the right to live or enter⁣ the UK. Though technically still British⁢ nationals,‌ Hong Kong’s people were legally excluded‌ from Britain. This act signaled the ​UK ⁢was preparing to relinquish responsibility for Hong Kong’s future, effectively leaving its people to China.

The‍ Sino-British Joint Declaration in 1984 ⁣was signed without consulting the people of Hong Kong. By the early 2010s, as Beijing tightened its grip,‍ the question of ‌self-determination re-emerged. In 2013, the Hong Kong University Student Union published a series of essays titled On hong Kong Nationalism, arguing for a distinct​ Hong Kong nation⁣ in response to growing political repression, including an attempt in 2012 to introduce Moral and National Education into Hong Kong schools. In 2014, the student ‌union followed up with a‌ themed issue entitled The Hong Kong Nation Determining Its Own Fate. Later that year, the National People’s Congress Standing Committee’s (NPCSC) “31 August decision” to pre-screen candidates for the Chief Executive election sparked the Umbrella Movement, transforming self-determination from a fringe concept‍ into a mainstream political demand.

In 2015, Hong Kong’s​ legislature voted down Beijing’s proposed electoral reform package, which would​ have allowed worldwide ‌suffrage ​only under strict pre-screening of candidates. The⁢ defeat energized a new wave of political activism, and several youth-led and localist groups began‌ to form. Among them was Demosisto, co-founded by Joshua Wong and ⁣Nathan Law. Demosisto advocated for democratic self-determination, proposing that Hongkongers should be able to decide their political future when “one country, ⁢two systems” is set‌ to expire⁢ in 2047. In 2016, Nathan Law became the youngest ‍legislator ⁤ever elected in Hong kong.

In 2017, Nathan Law was disqualified from the legislative Council following a controversial interpretation⁣ of Hong ‍Kong’s Basic Law⁤ issued by the NPCSC in Beijing.That ‍same year, Carrie Lam⁢ was installed as Chief Executive, and during a visit to Hong Kong, Xi Jinping warned that any challenge to⁤ China’s sovereignty or central⁢ authority would cross a “red line.”

The ⁣effort to eliminate pro-democracy voices from Hong Kong’s political sphere culminated in 2020, when Beijing imposed the National Security ⁤Law ⁣on the city. In the immediate aftermath, Demosisto disbanded ⁤and co-founder Nathan Law went into self-exile in the UK. Joshua Wong was later sentenced for “subversion” for his involvement in the 2020 pro-democracy primary‍ elections, and though he is expected to be released in 2027,‍ he now faces‍ a new charge of “conspiracy to collude with foreign forces”.

Joshua Wong was simply asking for a right​ denied ⁤to his people when the UK ‌allowed Hong Kong⁤ to be removed from the UN list without their consent. One possible redemptive option for the UK now would ‍be to seek an⁤ advisory opinion ‌from the International Court of Justice through the UN General Assembly, similar to the Western sahara case. While the UK cannot unilaterally⁢ bring China to the​ ICJ as both states must consent to the Court’s jurisdiction, this advisory route does not require China’s ​consent. Political obstacles⁣ remain, given China’s influence at the UN.

The UK, which first betrayed Hongkongers by allowing their ​rights ⁤to be sidelined, ⁣now has a chance to⁢ reclaim its ​credibility by leading the global call for justice and human rights in hong ⁤Kong. Whether the UK chooses to stand with ⁤Hongkongers will define if it is remembered as a defender of human⁣ rights or a willing accomplice to betrayal.

What’s ​next

The international community will be watching to see⁤ if the UK takes concrete ⁤steps ⁤to address its past ⁣actions and advocate for​ the​ rights of the people of​ Hong Kong. The ‍future of ⁢Hong ⁤Kong’s autonomy and⁣ the protection of its citizens’ rights depend on renewed courage and commitment from ⁣global actors.