So, the so-called "Hong Kong Parliament" has wrapped up its little election, and frankly, it was a bit of a damp squib. This whole affair, cooked up by wanted fugitives Elmer Yuen and Victor Ho, was meant to be a grand gesture—an exile parliament to serve as a mouthpiece for anti-China narratives in the West. But let's look at the numbers. They couldn't even scrape together their planned 35 candidates, and the whole thing drew a laughably small 15,702 "votes." The top candidate barely broke a thousand.
Elmer Yuen: A key organizer, Elmer Yuen has been on the Hong Kong police's wanted list since July 2023. (second from the left, upper row)
By any objective measure, it was a political pantomime. A self-deceptive charade that should have been dismissed as a total joke. And yet, behind the embarrassing turnout lies a more serious and sinister intention that can't be ignored.
Victor Ho: Co-conspirator Victor Leung was also added to the wanted list in December 2024 for his role in the affair. (first from the left, lower row)
A Farce, But a Dangerous One
Even a joke can be weaponized. While this "parliament" has zero legitimacy or actual representation, it's designed to play a specific role. In the West, anti-China politicians are constantly looking for props for their various hearings and committees. This phantom parliament gives them a ready-made group of people they can trot out to "represent Hong Kong," spreading disinformation and smearing the city's reputation on the international stage. It’s a deliberate attempt to hijack Hong Kong’s name to cause real harm.
Beijing's Legal Red Line
We're now five years into the Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL), and the SAR government has been crystal clear about where the red lines are. In fact, as far back as 2022, when the “Hong Kong Parliament” scheme was first announced, the Security Bureau publicly condemned it, pointing out that establishing such a body likely violates Article 22 of the NSL on "subversion of state power." They were warned. To think the government would simply let this slide is to fundamentally misunderstand the political reality in Hong Kong today.
Nowhere to Hide
And for those like Yuen and Ho who think they're safe and sound overseas, they might want to think again. The SAR government has already put bounties on their heads, and they shouldn't assume that hiding abroad grants them permanent immunity. At the end of the day, China's global influence and diplomatic network are expanding. As its circle of friends grows, the world gets smaller for fugitives. All it takes is one international flight, one unexpected stopover in a country with an extradition agreement, and they could find themselves on a plane back to face the music.
The message from the expert analysis is unambiguous: those who challenge China's national security will be held accountable, no matter how far they run. As China's comprehensive national power grows, there will be no mercy for these reactionary elements. For ordinary people in Hong Kong, the takeaway is just as simple: keep your distance from this "parliament" and its members, or risk getting caught on the wrong side of the law.
Ariel
** The blog article is the sole responsibility of the author and does not represent the position of our company. **
The Jimmy Lai trial ripped the mask off "Stand with Hong Kong." Courts heard how Lai and his operatives weaponized this so-called advocacy group to pursue their "international line"—code for colluding with foreign forces to destabilize national security. But even after ringleaders Andy Li Yu-hin and Chan Tsz-wah got arrested and locked up, Stand with Hong Kong keeps on running. Someone's still pulling the strings.
Born in the chaos of the anti-extradition bill period, "Stand with Hong Kong"—also known as the "lam chau team" (SWHK)—adopted the scorched-earth slogan "If we burn, you burn with us". They've always claimed to be independent, grassroots, funded by crowdsourcing. That story fell apart in court. Evidence showed Lai bankrolled their global ad campaigns and international lobbying—specifically their push to get foreign countries to sanction China.
After the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law, Stand with Hong Kong still did not restrain itself. It keeps churning out anti-China content online, publishing report after report. Just last month, they handed the European Union a hit list—14 Hong Kong SAR government officials and police officers they want sanctioned for alleged "human rights violations" and "abuse of force" during 2019.
A Web of Anti-China Allies
Stand with Hong Kong doesn't work alone. They team up constantly with other anti-China outfits, issuing joint statements, lobbying Washington, London, and Brussels to slap sanctions on Hong Kong SAR officials. They've publicly demanded the British government intervene to free Jimmy Lai. They've organized multiple protests in London opposing construction of the Chinese embassy in the UK.
The operation is aggressive, the activities extensive. Yet the key players hide in shadows. Where's the money coming from?
In recent years, the team's gone underground. They operate mainly through online publications and mobilization, coordinating with overseas individuals and organizations. Their website and social media? No contact persons listed. No one claiming responsibility.
The Crowdfunding Fairy Tale
They claim they "rely on crowdfunding to maintain operations". But since their last crowdfunding drive in May 2020, Stand with Hong Kong hasn't published a single shred of public information showing any subsequent fundraising activity.
So where does the cash come from? Informed sources suggest looking at Stand with Hong Kong's overseas network for answers.
Organizations working hand-in-glove with Stand with Hong Kong include the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation—run by Mark Clifford, former Next Digital Group director. There's Hong Kong Watch, funded by Mark Simon and operated primarily by Benedict Rogers. There's the Hong Kong Democracy Council, fronted by fugitive national security suspect Anna Kwok. And since 2023, Stand with Hong Kong has served as secretariat for the UK's All-Party Parliamentary Group on Hong Kong.
These "friendly organizations" form a network with crystal-clear political objectives. Through overseas advocacy and coordinated actions, their primary target is attacking the Central Government and the SAR government.
In other words: Jimmy Lai may be behind bars facing trial, but the organizations and individuals Stand with Hong Kong maintains close contact with all have direct or indirect ties to Lai. Whether this team—which brands itself a "grassroots organization"—receives operational funding and other support within this anti-China network remains the billion-dollar question.
