What changed

European Parliament resolution on the conviction and imminent sentencing of Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong

B100068/2026

(2026/2571(RSP))

European Parliament resolution on Conviction and imminent sentencing of Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong

(2026/2573(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previousRule resolutions150 onof Hongits KongRules andof China,Procedure,

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

A. Whereas Jimmy Lai, founder of the pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, and a prominent leader of the pro-democratic camp of Hong Kong (HK), has been on trial since 2020 and convicted for multiple charges under the HK National Security Law (NSL) and now faces imminent sentencing risking a maximum penalty of life imprisonment;

A. whereas on 15 December 2025, Hong Kong’s High Court convicted British citizen and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai of collusion with foreign forces under the National Security Law (NSL) and sedition under the colonial-era Crimes Ordinance; whereas he now faces imminent sentencing that could result in life imprisonment;

B. Whereas the prospect of a life sentence against a 76-year-old media publisher for peaceful expression constitutes a grossly disproportionate punishment and raises profound concerns regarding judicial independence and the use of the courts as instruments of political repression in HK;

B. whereas Lai has been detained since December 2020 on multiple politically motivated charges; whereas he has spent more than 1 800 days in solitary confinement;

C. Whereas Lai’s prosecution was based on journalistic writings, public statements and contacts with international actors as evidence, criminalising conduct that is protected under international human rights law;

C. whereas Lai’s conviction represents a further escalation in the dismantling of freedom of expression, media freedom and judicial independence in Hong Kong, following the imposition of the NSL in 2020 and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO) in 2024;

D. Whereas Jimmy Lai has been held in prolonged pre-trial detention since December 2020 and has spent extended periods in solitary confinement, exacerbating concerns about his physical and mental health;

D. whereas by imposing the NSL and the SNSO, China has breached its international legal obligations, which guaranteed Hong Kong special status until 2047 under the Sino-British Joint Declaration, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which remains applicable to Hong Kong;

E. Whereas the HK authorities have denied Jimmy Lai his right to a fair trial;

E. whereas Lai, aged 78, faces a lengthy prison term or life imprisonment, despite suffering from diabetes and currently being held under life-threatening conditions;

F. Whereas these developments constitute violations of HK’s international obligations and of the Sino-British Joint Declaration;

1. Condemns Jimmy Lai’s conviction, in the strongest terms, and expresses grave concern over his imminent sentencing; urges the Hong Kong authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Lai and all other individuals detained for exercising their freedoms, including religious and democratic rights, to drop all charges against them and to guarantee their fundamental rights; urges the Hong Kong authorities to provide Lai and other political prisoners in need with immediate access to specialised medical care;

1. Strongly condemns the conviction and imminent sentencing of Jimmy Lai and considers all charges to be politically motivated and as breaches of international human rights standards;

2. Emphasises that Lai’s arbitrary prosecution exemplifies the systematic use of state security laws to eliminate independent media, free speech and the political opposition in Hong Kong;

2. Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Jimmy Lai and all other individuals detained or imprisoned for exercising their fundamental rights;

3. Reiterates its strong condemnation of the NSL and the SNSO in Hong Kong and their transnational implications; calls for the repeal of the NSL and the SNSO;

3. Expresses grave concern about the deterioration of Jimmy Lai’s health and detention conditions, and calls for independent medical access and the full respect for his legal rights;

4. Condemns the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities’ escalating transnational repression of journalists, activists and the diaspora, including in the EU; reiterates its call on the Member States to suspend extradition treaties with China and Hong Kong and to provide effective protection to individuals at risk of political persecution; calls on the Commission to initiate the suspension of Hong Kong’s status under the World Trade Organization;

4. Urges the authorities of the HK and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to repeal the NSL and to restore full respect for freedom of expression and of the press, judicial independence and the rule of law in HK;

5. Considers thatthe imprisoningpossible life imprisonment of Jimmy Lai foran lifeunacceptable woulddecision, bewhich unacceptable,would bringingbring severe consequences forin EU-China relations;relations, and would mark a critical moment for the international community’s response;

6. Urges the Council to review its 2020 conclusions on Hong Kong andimmediately adopt sanctions under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime against Chief Executive John Lee and all officials responsible for theHK crackdownand onPRC freedoms;officials;

7. Calls on the EU Delegation to intensify diplomatic engagement and monitoring regarding Lai’s situation and related cases;

7. Calls on the Commission to start working on the suspension of HK status under the WTO;

8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission and the Council, the People’s Republic of China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

8. Urges the Member States to offer humanitarian protection, to HK journalists, human rights defenders and activists and to suspend all extradition treaties with HK and the PRC;

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, and the authorities of the PRC and HK.