Resolution on Hong Kong, notably the cases of Jimmy Lai and the 45 activists recently convicted under the national security law

The European Parliament adopted by 473 votes to 23, with 98 abstentions, a resolution on Hong Kong, notably the cases of Jimmy Lai and the 45 activists recently convicted under the national security law.

The text adopted in plenary was tabled by the EPP, S&D, ECR, Renew and the Greens/EFA groups.

After the introduction of the National Security Law (NSL) and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO), fundamental freedoms and the rule of law in Hong Kong have deteriorated.

Regarding Jimmy Lai, the Sino-British pro-democratic activist has been detained since 2020 on trumped-up charges. He faces life imprisonment. In addition, 45 pro-democracy politicians, activists and journalists were sentenced for subversion, in the ‘Hong Kong 47’ case, for organising unofficial election primaries. Their trials were the largest national security trials to date.

Parliament condemned the sentencing of pro-democracy activists on national security charges, in violation of international law and called for the repeal of the NSL and the SNSO.

The Hong Kong Government is called on to immediately and unconditionally release all pro-democracy activists, including Lai and Chung, and to drop all charges against them.

Stating that Hong Kong’s ranking in the World Press Freedom Index has dropped significantly, Members called on Hong Kong to enable journalists to report freely. They also condemned the exploitation of Hong Kong’s global trade position to evade international sanctions imposed on Russia, Iran and North Korea, particularly through the supply of advanced technologies, trade in oil, and the provision of financial services.

Warning China that its actions in Hong Kong will have consequences for EU-China relations, the Council is called to review its 2020 conclusions on HK and to impose targeted sanctions on John Lee and other HK and Chinese officials responsible for human rights violations, to revoke Hong Kong’s favourable customs treatment and review the status of the Hong Kong Economic Trade Office in Brussels.

Lastly, the resolution called for an EU legal defence fund in support of democracy activists in Hong Kong and for the EU Office in HK to intensify prison visits and trial observation, and to establish a human rights focal point.