廿八位英國宗教及人權組織資深領袖在聖誕前聯署,要求英國政府採取切實措施保障香港的高度自治及基本自由,「確保香港人的生命與自由得到保障」。
參與聯署的,包括聖公會前坎特伯雷大主教威廉斯(Rowan Williams),以及來自當地基督教、天主教、猶太教、伊斯蘭教、佛教的宗教及工會領袖,人權組織領袖亦有加入聯署。他們促請英國首相約翰遜以及外相藍韜文,對那些在今次政治危機裡有份侵犯人權的中國及香港人,加以制裁。
聯署信批評,英國有負一九八四年《中英聯合聲明》的法律、歷史及道德責任,又質疑繼續單靠聲援是否還有用。聯署信亦要求英國政府擴大英國國民(海外)護照持有人的權利,以為港人提供安全蔭庇。
聯署信亦有提及內地對基督徒的迫害不斷增加、新疆逾百萬穆斯林被拘禁,以及西藏佛教徒被持續迫害,「難怪那麼多捍衛信仰自由的香港人主動投入守護一國兩制。」
聯署信全文如下:
Dear Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs,
We are leaders and members of religious and freedom of belief organisations and we stand collectively with Hong Kong. We strive to uphold human rights, individual liberty, protection from violence and the rule of law: the fundamental principles that Hongkongers face losing in their fight for freedom. We stand with them and urge you to do the same.
The UK government has so far stood back and hoped the crisis in Hong Kong will simply resolve itself. But hoping is not good enough. We need this government to take concrete action, rather than just “speaking up” for the people of Hong Kong who are suffering during this unrest.
When the UK government signed the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, it agreed to protect Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy and fundamental freedoms until 2047. Britain is failing that legal, historical and moral duty. In view of the severe erosion of the way of life in Hong Kong, the government should consider expanding the rights of British National (Overseas) passport holders, offering safe refuge in the UK to Hongkongers, and sanctioning individuals from China and Hong Kong who are responsible for or complicit in human rights violations during this political crisis.
Given the increasing persecution and imprisonment of Christians and the demolition of churches in China, the internment of more than a million Uighur Muslims, the continued oppression of Tibetan Buddhists, the banning of liberal freedom of belief NGOs, and the suppression of free speech, it is hardly surprising that so many who defend freedom of belief in Hong Kong have been involved so actively in efforts to preserve “two systems, one country.”
As representatives of millions of UK citizens who believe in peace, decency and human rights, we believe it is the UK government’s sworn duty to stand with Hong Kong. Please act with urgency to ensure the lives and freedoms of those in Hong Kong are protected.
Thank you.
Signed,
The Right Reverend Dr Alan Wilson, Bishop of Buckingham,
The Right Reverend and Right Honourable, The Lord Williams of Oystermouth, former Archbishop of Canterbury,
Baroness Neuberger,
Andrew Copson, Chief Executive of Humanists UK,
Reverend Andrew Dart, Superintendent Minister, Lambeth Methodist Circuit,
Reverend Joanna Jepson,
The Bishop of Coventry,
Fr Timothy Radcliffe OP, former Master of the Dominican Order,
The Lord Singh of Wimbledon CBE,
Dr Desmond Biddulph CBE, President The Buddhist Society,
The Right Reverend John Perry, former Bishop of Chelmsford and former Chairman of CSW,
Mervyn Thomas CMG, Founder and Chief Executive of CSW,
Rabbi Herschel Gluck OBE,
Reverend Jonathan Aitken,
Rabbi Herschel Gluck OBE,
Kyaw Win, Executive Director of Burma Human Rights Network and General Secretary of the Burmese Muslim Association UK,
Reverend Jonathan Aitken,
Nigel Parker, Director The Catholic Union of Great Britain,
Neville Kyrke-Smith, National Director, Aid to the Church in Need,
Cllr Rakhia Ismail, London Borough of Islington Mayor,
Fr Damian Howard SJ, Provincial of the Jesuits in Britain,
Rabbi Pinter,
Dr Wael Aleji, Association for Middle Eastern Conservatives
Dr Anas Altikriti, CEO, The Cordoba Foundation
Ajmal Masroor, Imam and Broadcaster from London
Mohammed Kozbar, Chairman, Finsbury Park Mosque
Rakhia Ismail, Mayor of London Borough of Islington and community leader
Imam Mersad Krnjic, Imam, Bosnian Community in Birmingham
Dr Abdullah Faliq, CEO, Justice for Rohingya Minority
(綜合報道)