Hong Kong Chief Executive Shows Interest in Saudi Arabia’s NEOM Project

The NEOM project has been accused of being a surveillance city

John Lee Ka-chiu (Second L), Hong Kong Chief Executive, visiting THE LINE Experience Exhibition of NEOM Future City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on on Feb. 5, 2023. (Hong Kong Information Services Department)

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said that Hong Kong can play a crucial role in providing funds for the NEOM project, a smart city being built in the northwest of Saudi Arabia. The NEOM project has been accused of human rights violations and being a city of surveillance. In 2022, three former indigenous residents, who opposed forced evictions, were sentenced to death.

Lee visited THE LINE Experience Exhibition of NEOM Future City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Feb. 5. The project for future smart cities is funded by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia.

According to the Hong Kong government news release, NEOM promotes future innovation in business, livability, and sustainable development.

Death Penalty for Opposing NEOM

The Epoch Times reporters investigated and unraveled that NEOM has been criticized for violating human rights, disregarding environmental protection, and conducting city surveillance.

ALQST, a Saudi Arabian human rights organization, announced on Oct. 2, 2022, that three former Indigenous residents of the Huwaiti desert tribe were sentenced to death after opposing the project and refusing to move out of NEOM’s construction area.

The Court of Appeal upheld the death sentence of the three men, Shadli, Ibrahim, and Ataullah, on Jan. 23, 2023.

ALQST pointed out that dozens of former residents of the Huwaiti tribe have already been arrested, detained, and sentenced to long-term imprisonment for peaceful protests after being forced to move out of their homes.

The human rights organization condemned the local court for sending people to prison for up to 50 years for exercised their right to freedom of expression. ALQST also mentioned the sharp deterioration of the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia since mid-2022.

The Saudi Arabian government has also significantly increased the use of the death penalty. In 2022, 148 people were executed; the number of death penalties also doubled compared to 2021.

Architectural Companies Involved

Peter Frankental, economic affairs program director at Amnesty International, told architectural magazine, Dezeen, in December 2022 that the construction companies that designed NEOM must realize the human rights violations related to the NEOM project. They also expressed regret that those companies were not concerned at all about the dire situation.

Companies involved in the NEOM construction include Morphosis and Aedas from America, British company Zaha Hadid Architects, UNStudio from the Netherlands, LAVA from Germany, and Bureau Proberts from Down Under Australia.

Dezeen mentioned one of the cities, THE LINE, a 170-kilometer-long city (approximately 105 miles), is designed by Morphosis. The large-scale town project, however, had been criticized for its sustainability and livability.

Surveillance Everywhere

In July 2019, the Wall Street Journal revealed that NEOM is a ubiquitous, automated city based on a 2,300-page confidential document.

The Saudi Arabian government can monitor everything in THE LINE; the city’s computers can automatically report crimes and track all citizens.

In July 2020, the online game League of Legends European Champions League signed a partnership deal with NEOM. Gamers worldwide immediately voiced their opposition, criticizing the Saudi Arabian government for being hostile toward women’s rights and interests and other communities. In less than 24 hours, the mother company of the online game, Riot Games, urgently announced its termination of the contract with NEOM.

In addition, according to the 2022 Global Freedom Index ranking by Freedom House, a non-profit organization in the United States, Saudi Arabia ranks bottom 10 out of 210 countries and regions worldwide.

The report criticized Saudi Arabia’s absolute monarchy for limiting almost all political rights and civil liberties; and that the people do not elect its government officials.

The 2022 Global Freedom Index also stated that the Saudi Arabian dictatorship relied on ubiquitous surveillance of its people and treated dissents as criminals. The index also revealed women and religious minorities were widely discriminated against by the law and in their daily life. Additionally, a large number of foreign workers were exploited.

Project Cost over $500 Billion

According to NEOM’s official website, “NEOM,” which means “new future,” is located northwest of Saudi Arabia.

The Crown Prince and Chairman of the Board of Directors of NEOM, Mohammed bin Salman conceptualized the NEOM project. NEOM construction began in October 2017, and some tourist areas will be opened in 2024.

One million people are expected to live in NEOM in 2030, and its population will increase to nine million by 2045.

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund promised to pump $500 billion into the project. The project is open to global investment.

Diluting European and American Investment in Hong Kong

Andrew To Kwan-hang, former chairman of the League of Social Democrats and current affairs commentator, shared his view on an online program on Feb. 10, 2023.

He said, “since the relationship between the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Western countries has been deteriorating in recent years, the regime wants to invite the Middle East and countries in Southeast Asia to raise funds and invest in Hong Kong. The middle eastern strategy is to dilute the influence and investment of the United States and European countries in Hong Kong.”

The political commentator stated that many American and European companies in the past invested in Hong Kong. Therefore, Europe and the United States have the right to comment on the matters of human rights, democracy, and freedoms in Hong Kong.

To speculated that Middle Eastern countries had already agreed or decided to invest in Hong Kong before Lee’s visit. Otherwise, Lee would not have gone to Saudi Arabia. The Hong Kong government may set up an economy and trade office in the Middle East in the near future.

To added that the memorandum of cooperation and letter of intent signed by Lee with Saudi Arabian enterprises or institutions are not “contracts.” He suspected Lee’s foreign visit was just a publicity stunt to attract foreign investment and meet the key performance indicators (KPI).

Senior journalist Li Wei-ling said on her YouTube channel on Feb. 10, 2023 that the Hong Kong government hoped to utilize the Saudi Arabian trip to show the CCP that Hong Kong could play an active role in the regime’s “Belt and Road Initiative” plan.

Li added that Lee’s current office is especially worried that if the trip to the Middle East was fruitless, the CCP might be less than impressed with the Hong Kong government.