SCMP - Hong KongToday, 4:34 AM
Law Yuk-kai has rarely made the news in recent years, but the veteran human rights activist says his work has never been more relevant.
The director of the Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor found a brief moment in the spotlight in 2011 when he said police use of pepper spray in a scuffle during the July 1 march was "just like in a third-world country".
For the most part, however, rather than grabbing headlines, Law has been quietly toiling for his cause since the body was founded 20 years ago. It is a commitment that has left the 57-year-old with more white hair and extra weight.
But Law refuses to answer questions about the personal toll his work has taken, saying to do so would be a breach of his NGO's regulations. Instead, between sips of iced lemon tea with honey, his thoughts drift between reports produced, bills supported or opposed and struggles, old and new.
"Now that China is taking a very hands-on approach towards Hong Kong and their concept of national security is much wider, I think our role is more important," he said.
"We have to ensure that international standards and the international treaties Hong Kong subscribed to are observed."
Compared to other human rights organisations, Law believes the body has a unique contribution to make.
"We are the only group which monitors demonstrations with police agreement to assist us," he said. And "we are also the only group that monitors elections in Hong Kong, from the days before the handover until now".
The body was created during the latter days of British rule and has observed the changes in the city since the 1997 handover.
It was started by a group of about 10 activists. They included Professor Johannes Chan Man-mun, who would later serve as the dean of law at the University of Hong Kong, and Christine Loh Kung-wai, now undersecretary for the environment.
Today, it is led by a 15-strong board and has more than 500 members.
Turning his mind back to 2003, when the body joined with the Hong Kong Christian Institute to launch the Civil Human Rights Front, Law said: "Discrimination on grounds of race and sexual orientation were some of the main areas of concern, but soon we found that Article 23 would be the main one."
He was referring to the government's failed attempt that year to introduce national security laws under Article 23 of the Basic Law.
The body's work has been broad in scope, ranging from raising awareness of the rights of refugees and asylum seekers to following the drafting of the Interception of Communications and Surveillance Ordinance.
Besides the achievements, Law also recalls some failures.
"We wanted to have an independent inspectorate to monitor prisons, but we were not able to," Law said. The body was also still waiting for a human rights commission for the city, and its No1 goal, universal suffrage, remained as elusive as ever.
"Our priorities now are police abuse of power and national security legislation, as well as autonomy to protect human rights in Hong Kong and preserving freedom of assembly, association and expression," he said.
The NGO will have a chance to raise these concerns on a global stage on November 9 when it addresses the United Nations Committee Against Torture.
But amid the emphasis on rights, Law is not oblivious to the responsibilities that come attached.
"The public has to understand that human rights are something they need to pay a price for," he said. "To ask others to respect your rights, you have to respect others' rights as well."
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1841207/hong-kong-human-rights-monitor-directors-work-has-never
