What changed

B100210/2024

P10_TA(2024)0051

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on Hong Kong, notably the cases of Jimmy Lai and the 45 activists recently convicted under the application of national security law

(2024/2950(RSP))

PE766.522

European Parliament resolution of 28 November 2024 on Hong Kong, notably the cases of Jimmy Lai and the 45 activists recently convicted under the national security law (2024/2950(RSP))

The European Parliament,

-having– having regard to its previous resolutions on Hong Kong,Kong and China,

-having– having regard to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

whereas the People’s Republic of ChinaA. (PRC)whereas andafter the Governmentintroduction of the Hong KongNational SpecialSecurity AdministrativeLaw Region(NSL) (HKSAR)and continuethe oppressingSafeguarding basicNational humanSecurity rightsOrdinance and(SNSO), pressfundamental freedomfreedoms underand the Safeguardingrule Nationalof Securitylaw Ordinancein (SNSO)Hong andKong the(HK) Nationalhave Securitydeteriorated; Lawwhereas (NSL);China whereashas violated the PRCSino-British hasand fullySino-Portuguese breachedjoint declarations, the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR);ICCPR; whereas over 200 people have been arrested sinceunder the NSL’s adoption;NSL;

whereas Jimmy Lai has been detained since December 2020 on trumped-up charges, accused of collusion with foreign forces, and fraud, as well as sedition under NSL; whereas his trial not only leads to possible life sentence but also further deterioration of the freedom of expression and journalism in Hong Kong; whereas other 45 pro-democracy activists who participated in a 2020 democratic primary faced sentences ranging from a minimum of four years to 10 years in jail for ‘conspiracy to subvert state power’;

B. whereas Jimmy Lai has been detained since 2020 on trumped-up charges; whereas his trial started in 2023 after various delays; whereas he denied these charges and faces life imprisonment; whereas his British lawyer has been refused permission to represent him;

whereas Jimmy Lai, a 76 years old British citizen being imprisoned in lengthy solitary confinement, who suffers from diabetes with no access to medical care, faces increasing risk of long-term health complications and denial of Holy Communion in prison;

C. whereas 45 pro-democracy politicians, activists and journalists were sentenced for subversion, in the ‘Hong Kong 47’ case, for organising unofficial election primaries; whereas their trials were the largest national security trials to date;

Strongly condemns the NSL and the SNSO and the unjust imprisonment and ongoing ill treatment of Jimmy Lai and the 45 recently convicted activists; demands the release all pro-democracy activists immediately and unconditionally; urges the PRC and Hong Kong to repeal the NSL and the SNSO;

D. whereas political prisoners in HK endure difficult conditions, often affecting their health, throughout lengthy pre-trial detentions, as with 76-year-old Lai, who has diabetes and has been denied Communion in prison;

Urges the Council to review its 2020 Conclusions on Hong Kong and adopt sanctions under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime against Chief Executive John Lee and all Hong Kong and PRC officials responsible for human rights violations;

E. whereas independent media outlets in HK have been forced to cease operations and two journalists of now defunct media outlets, Chung Pui-kuen and Patrick Lam, have been sentenced for ‘seditious publications’; whereas HK’s ranking in the World Press Freedom Index has dropped significantly;

Calls on the EEAS to support the EU Office to Hong Kong in trial observation and prison visits, monitoring human rights by releasing public statements, and actively promoting the human rights focal points for human rights defenders;

1. Condemns the sentencing of pro-democracy activists on national security charges, in violation of international law; calls for the repeal of the NSL and the SNSO; denounces the degradation of basic freedoms in HK;

Calls on the Commission and the EEAS to review the status and privileges of the Hong Kong Economic Trade Office in Brussels;

2. Urges the HK Government to immediately and unconditionally release all pro-democracy activists, including Lai and Chung, and to drop all charges against them;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission, the Commission, the Council, the Government and Parliament of the PRC, and the Chief Executive and the Legislative Council of the HKSAR.

3. Condemns the extraterritorial application of the NSL and increasing transnational repression by the Chinese and HK authorities against diaspora communities within the EU; calls on the Member States to suspend extradition treaties with them;

4. Condemns the exploitation of HK’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;

5. Calls on the EEAS and the Member States to warn China that its actions in HK will have consequences for EU-China relations; calls on the Council 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 HK’s favourable customs treatment and review the status of the HK Economic Trade Office in Brussels; urges the Member States to file an ICJ case against China’s decision to impose the NSL on HK and Macau;

6. Calls for an EU legal defence fund in support of democracy activists in HK and for the EU Office in HK to intensify prison visits and trial observation, and to establish a human rights focal point;

7. Calls on HK to enable journalists to report freely and urges the EEAS to strengthen press freedoms in HK;

8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the EU institutions, China and the HKSAR.