Book Talk — Freedom Undone: The Assault on Liberal Values and Institutions in Hong Kong

The Rajawali Foundation Institute for Asia invites Harvard ID holders to a book talk with author Michael C. Davis and discussant Dennis Kwok to talk about Davis’s latest piece — Freedom Undone: The Assault on Liberal Values and Institutions in Hong Kong. This event is co-sponsored by the Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies.

Light refreshments will be provided.

Abstract

What happens when liberal constitutional institutions guaranteeing basic freedoms are undone? Can Freedom survive the loss of separation of powers with the associated legal and political accountability? The Chinese Communist Party, as a core part of its national security agenda, has been at the forefront in its disdain for liberal institutions and promoting illiberal alternatives. This disdain placed Hong Kong’s people on the frontlines of the global struggle for freedom. Since its handover from Britain, the city has felt the brunt of China’s illiberal agenda. In 2019 this took on greater intensity with an aggressive police crackdown on protesters, quickly followed in 2020 by Beijing’s imposition of a National Security Law, in 2021 by the imposition of a patriots only electoral system and in 2024 by enactment of local national security legislation. Thousands have been jailed and a city famous for vigorous protests has been silenced. Professor Michael C. Davis, who taught human rights in the city for decades, takes us on the constitutional journey of both the city’s vigorous defense of freedom and its repressive undoing—a painful loss for Hong Kong and a lesson for the world. Discussion can be expected to engage the still ongoing crisis in Hong Kong and the implications of the wider liberal/illiberal debate.

About the Speakers

Professor Michael Davis is a Global Fellow at the Wilson Center in Washington DC, a Senior Research Scholar at the Weatherhead East Asia Institute, and a Professor of Law and International Affairs at O.P. Jindal Global University. Long a public intellectual in Hong Kong, he was a professor in the Law Faculty at the University of Hong Kong until late 2016. His scholarship engages a range of issues relating to human rights and constitutionalism in emerging states, with publications across academic, public affairs and popular media. Amnesty International and the Hong Kong FCC awarded him a 2014 Human Rights Press Award for commentary.

Dennis Kwok is a partner at Elliott Kwok Levine Jaroslaw Neils LLP. A former pro-democracy lawmaker in Hong Kong representing the legal sector from 2012-2020, Kwok was disqualified from office by the NPC in November 2020 and went into exile soon afterwards. He served as senior fellow at HKS from 2021-2023 and is currently teaching at Northeastern University. In his private legal practice, he advises MNCs and democratic governments on legal and geopolitical risk in the China region.

Event Details

Registration is required for this event using the link above. This event is in person and open to Harvard ID holders. Please register using your Harvard email address.

The Ash Center encourages individuals with disabilities to participate in its events. Should you wish to enquire about an accommodation, please contact our events team at info@ash.harvard.edu prior to the event.

Additional questions? Email the Ash Center events team at info@ash.harvard.edu.