Key words: Charles MOK, Failure to disclose ties,
National Endowment for Democracy (NED), Conflict of Interest, Foreign
Interference, American funding, Occupy Central.
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| Charles MOK |
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| NED Logo |
In October 2014 a critical debate took place in Hong
Kong’s Legislative Council on whether to invoke the Powers and Privileges Ordinance
to investigate NED funding of the Occupy Central protests.
Here’s what
Charles MOK said
It is suggested that the National Endowment
for Democracy has funded
the so-and-so of Occupy Central
This so-called NED does receive part of its
funding from the United States government but its sponsored projects all aim to
promote such ideas as stronger governance and protection of human rights
The NED have stated clearly they funded 1400
projects in more than 90 countries in a year, including China. Members can look
up relevant information online
I oppose the motion
Link: See Pages 1289 to 1290 of the Official Record of LegCo
Proceedings here:Official Record of LegCo Proceedings
The Conflict of
Interest - What Charles MOK didn’t say!
Taking Charles MOK’s advice to look up relevant
information online, that’s exactly
what we did. Here’s what we discovered:
Charles MOK helped established Hong Kong Human Rights
Monitor using NED funds
In a speech in 2002, Paul Harris, a Barrister stated he set
up the Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor (HKHRM) in 1995 with Charles MOK1. See speech here. What Paul Harris didn’t disclose was that HKHRM was established
using an NED grant and has been funded by them ever since.
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| Paul Harris speech to Hong Kong Democratic Foundation (HKDF) in 2002 |
In the 2011 IT Subsector Elections, Charles MOK
acknowledged he was a founding member of Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor (1995 -
present)2.
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| Charles MOK resume in 2011 IT Subsector Elections |
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| Charles MOK resume in 2011 IT Subsector Elections Professional and Community Service includes: Founding Member, Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor (1995 - present) |
See candidate document here.
NED Grants to Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor (1995 to 2013)
Here’s a list of NED grants received by HKHRM since its establishment in 1995, based on information from the NED Annual Reports for these years:
1995 - $30,000 - To focus local and international public attention on
areas of Hong Kong law and practice that do not safeguard human rights.
1996 - $36,000 - To hire a full-time staff
director to coordinate the organization's work in human rights reporting,
casework, campaigning, and public education.
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| NED Annual Report 1996 NED Grant to HKHRM |
1997 - $40,000 - To focus local and
international public attention on areas of Hong Kong law and practice that fail
to safeguard human rights. The Monitor works to strengthen the foundations of
and commitment to the rule of law in Hong Kong.
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| NED Annual Report 1997 NED Grant to HKHRM |
1998 - $45,000 - To draw local and international public
attention to areas of Hong Kong law which fail to safeguard human rights. Hong
Kong Human Rights Monitor projects include human rights reporting, casework,
campaigning, and public education.
1999 - $48,000 - To campaign for improvements
in legal and institutional human rights safeguards in Hong Kong. The Monitor
will continue its program of human rights reporting, case work, campaigning,
and public education, and will also participate in the U.N. human rights fora.
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| NED Annual Report 1999 NED Grant to HKHRM |
2000 - US$48,000
- To carry out human rights
reporting, casework, campaigning and public education drawing local and
international public attention to the Hong Kong laws and practices that fail to
safeguard human rights.
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| NED Annual Report 2000 NED Grant to HKHRM |
2001 - US$51,000
- To combine legal defense of civil
rights with public campaigns and education to cultivate public opinion
favorable to democratization and the rule of law.
2002 - US$51,000
- To carry out human rights
reporting, casework, campaigning, and public education, drawing local and
international public attention to areas of Hong Kong law and practice that fail
to safeguard human rights.
2003 - US$60,000
- To carry out human rights
reporting, casework, campaigning and public education, drawing local and
international attention to civil and human rights developments in Hong Kong.
2004 - US$173,280
- To carry out a broad ranging
program of education and monitoring to draw local and international attention
to human rights and constitutional developments in Hong Kong. The Monitor will
produce educational materials, issue in-depth reports, conduct programs in
conjunction with schools and civic groups, hold a human rights film festival
and organize public seminars.
2005 - US$173,000
- To raise the standards of human
rights protection and democratic representation. The Monitor will carry out
human rights reporting, casework, campaigning, and public education drawing
local and international attention to civil and human rights developments in Hong
Kong.
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| NED Annual Report 2005 NED Grant to HKHRM |
2006 - US$175,000
- To raise the standards of human
rights protection and democratic representation. The Monitor will carry out
human rights reporting, casework, campaigning, and public education drawing
local and international attention to civil and human rights developments in
Hong Kong.
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| NED Annual Report 2006 NED Grant to HKHRM |
2007 - US$170,000
- To raise the standards of human
rights protection and democratic representation. The Monitor will carry out
human rights reporting, casework, campaigning, and public education drawing
local and international attention to civil and human rights developments in
Hong Kong.
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| NED Annual Report 2007 NED Grant to HKHRM |
2008 - US$170,000 - To
raise the standards of human rights protection and democratic representation in
Hong Kong. The Monitor will carry out human rights reporting, casework,
campaigning, and public education drawing local and international attention to
civil and human rights developments in Hong Kong.
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| NED Annual Report 2008 NED Grant to HKHRM |
2009 - US$170,000 - To raise the standards of human rights
protection and democratic representation in Hong Kong. The Monitor will carry
out human rights reporting, casework, campaigning, and public education drawing
local and international attention to civil rights and human rights developments
in Hong Kong.
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| NED Annual Report 2009 NED Grant to HKHRM |
2011 - US$170,000 - To raise the standards of human rights
protection and democratic representation in Hong Kong. The Monitor will carry
out human rights reporting, casework, campaigning, and public education drawing
local and international attention to civil rights and human rights developments
in Hong Kong.
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| NED Annual Report 2011 NED Grant to HKHRM |
2012 - US$155,000 - To raise the standards of human rights
protection and democratic representation in Hong Kong. The Monitor will carry
out human rights monitoring, casework, campaigning, and public education
drawing local and international attention to civil rights and human rights
developments in Hong Kong.
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| NED Annual Report 2012 NED Grant to HKHRM |
2013 - US$145,000 - Protecting Human Rights and Encouraging Democratic
Representation in Hong Kong To improve human rights protection and democratic
representation in Hong Kong. The Monitor will carry out advocacy, human rights
monitoring, casework, campaigning, and public education drawing local and
international attention to civil rights and human rights developments in Hong
Kong.
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| NED Annual Report 2013 NED Grant to HKHRM |
Charles MOK’s
relationship with the NED
In Congressional hearings on the oversight of the NED held in 1986,
testimony was given that the NED was established as a conduit to disperse US Government
funds and … the NED never sought to
“meddle in the internal politics” of other countries; rather it seeks to be
responsive to the needs of democrats abroad who ask for its assistance
(Page 113)3. See report here.
According to the statement of Paul Harris, this means he and Charles MOK
approached the NED for financial assistance to establish and operate HKHRM.
HKHRM
rewarded for leading role in organizing the Article 23 protests for the NED
A sensible person might ask, why the sudden triple-fold jump in NED
Grants to HKHRM after 2003. The answer is simple and again can be checked by looking
up the relevant information online. This was HKHRM’s reward for taking a lead
role in organizing the Article 23 protests on behalf on the NED, to stop the implementation
of legislation which would have outlawed their activities in Hong Kong.
National Endowment for Democracy – 1983 to 2003 – Twentieth Anniversary newsletter
According to the “National Endowment for Democracy – 1983 to 2003 –
Twentieth Anniversary” newsletter4:
“During 2003, the
Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor took a leading role in coordinating the
activities of the Civil Human Rights Front, a broad coalition of more than 40
Hong Kong groups concerned about the secretive drafting of the Article 23
“anti-subversion” law that would threaten basic political rights guaranteed in
Hong Kong’s Basic Law.”
The leading role of the Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor in the Article 23
protests were cited by the NED under: “Examples
of past and present programs”.
You don’t have to believe us – here’s the newsletter:
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| NED 20th Anniversary Newsletter in 2003 |
Comment
Charles MOK’s failure to disclose his relationship with the NED during
the LegCo debate on the NED constitutes a gross Conflict of Interest and casts
serious doubt on his integrity and fitness to be a legislator.
On behalf of the Hong Kong people, we demand Charles MOK withdraw his
candidacy in the 2016 LegCo elections.
Were the NED involved in the Occupy Central protests?
Read our blog here to find out: NED Programs in Hong Kong
References
1Paul Harris. 2002. Human Rights in Hong Kong
Post-1997. Speech to
the Hong Kong Democratic Foundation on 22 May 2002. [online]. Link: http://www.hkdf.org/human-rights-in-hong-kong-post-1997/
2IT Voice 2012. 2011 Election Committee
Elections (IT Subsector). Charles Mok (Candidate No. 30).Link: http://itvoice2012.hk/wp/candidates/charles-mok
3Oversight of the National Endowment for
Democracy : hearings before the Subcommittee on International Operations of the
Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, Ninety-ninth Congress,
second session, May 14 and 20, June 11, 1986. Link: http://njlaw.rutgers.edu/collections/gdoc/hearings/8/86602878/86602878_1.pdf
4National Endowment for Democracy – 1983 to 2003 – Twentieth Anniversary
Newsletter
Photo and
graphics credits
NED Logo. National Endowment for Democracy at www.ned.org
Charles MOK photo. Legislative Council of HKSAR. Members'
Biographies. Link: http://www.legco.gov.hk/general/english/members/yr12-16/mcp.htm
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