The American Law and Society Association (LSA) has decided to hold its annual conference at the University of Hong Kong next year, marking the first time the association will host its annual meeting outside of the Americas and Europe. Many legal scholars have expressed strong protests, believing that this move implies acquiescence to the harsh national security law imposed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and also exposes attendees to the risk of retaliation by the CCP.
LSA has announced that next year’s conference will take place at the University of Hong Kong from June 22 to 25. Some scholars have expressed concerns about holding the conference in Hong Kong, fearing potential harassment and surveillance, as scholars critical of the governments in Hong Kong and Beijing could face CCP retaliation. Michael Davis, a former professor at the University of Hong Kong’s Faculty of Law (2011-2020) and an American legal scholar, told Nikkei Asia that Beijing and the Hong Kong government have used national security legislation to arrest “almost anyone” openly discussing the impact of such legal frameworks on human rights and the rule of law.
“For any legal and social scholars who have made critical comments about the situation in Hong Kong, attending the conference in Hong Kong will pose significant risks… The decision of the Law and Society Association to hold such a conference in Hong Kong sends a clear signal to the outside world about its endorsement of these developments and puts members with connections to Hong Kong or China at risk.”
LSA, headquartered at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, is one of the most important academic organizations in the United States and globally for “law and society research.” LSA’s research focuses not only on legal texts but also on how law affects society, how people use the law, and how state power operates through legal mechanisms. The annual conference is a core activity of LSA and one of the largest gatherings for global legal and social research, with attendance often exceeding 2,500 people. The recent conference that just concluded (May 28-31) was held in San Francisco, California and was entirely in-person without any virtual sessions.
Davis also mentioned the arrest warrants and rewards issued by the Hong Kong government targeting exiled dissidents. He currently serves as a professor of law and international affairs at the Global University of Gandhara in India.
Over the past two years, the Hong Kong government has repeatedly denied entry to individuals critical of China’s human rights record and Hong Kong policies. For instance, British Member of Parliament Wera Hobhouse was denied entry into Hong Kong when she attempted to visit her family on April 10, 2025. Hobhouse has been a vocal critic of China’s human rights practices and Hong Kong policies.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) revealed in April 2026 that French journalist Antoine Vedeilhe was detained at the Hong Kong airport for about three hours on November 2, 2025, before being deported when he arrived to shoot a documentary for France Télévisions about the changes in Hong Kong under increased Beijing control. RSF noted that Vedeilhe was at least the 13th journalist to be denied entry or have his visa obstructed after the enactment of the Hong Kong National Security Law in 2020.
Aside from barring dissenting voices from entering Hong Kong, the authorities also seek retribution.
21-year-old Chen Xujing was arrested in March this year upon her return to Hong Kong from Australia. She was charged with possessing two laser devices and three cans of spray paint on September 8, 2019, at Tamar Park during the 2019 Hong Kong protests. Chen, who was arrested in 2019 when she was only 14-15 years old, subsequently left Hong Kong, resided in Australia, and returned to face charges over six years later. In April, she was granted bail of HK$10,000 but was required to surrender her travel documents within 24 hours, disclose her residential address, and report to the police station twice a week.
Chen Xujing, now an immigrant, being prohibited from leaving Hong Kong has impacted her work. Her next court appearance for trial has been scheduled for June 29th.