Sittings · Document
On deteriorating situation of media freedom and freedom of expression in Hong Kong following the recent arrest of bookseller Leticia Wong and the convictions of Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group · Rapporteur: Erik Marquardt, Nicolae Ștefănuță, Maria Ohisalo, Mounir Satouri, Catarina Vieira
Parliament's resolution condemns the sentencing of Lee Cheuk-yan, Chow Hang-tung and Albert Ho and the arrest of bookseller Leticia Wong Man-huen under Hong Kong's National Security Law.¶¶¶ It urges Hong Kong and Chinese authorities to release them, drop all charges and repeal the National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance.¶¶ It calls on EU institutions and member states to monitor trials, request prison visits, give emergency visas and financial support to those at risk, and adopt sanctions on responsible officials.¶¶ It asks member states to suspend extradition treaties with China and says human rights must be central to EU-China relations.¶¶
Key points
- Condemns the sentencing of Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung to 7 years and Albert Ho to over 5 years, and the arrest of Leticia Wong Man-huen.¶¶
- Urges authorities to immediately release them and drop all charges, as well as those against all pro-democratic representatives, activists, journalists and human rights defenders detained for peaceful expression.¶
- Denounces the prosecutions as arbitrary and urges Hong Kong and Chinese authorities to repeal the National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance.¶
- Calls for restoring full respect for freedom of expression and of the press, judicial independence and the rule of law in Hong Kong.¶
- Calls on the HR/VP, the EEAS and member states to intensify observation of trials, request prison visits and strengthen practical and financial support, including emergency visas, for journalists, publishers and human rights defenders at risk and their families.¶
- Urges the Council to review its 2020 Conclusions on Hong Kong and immediately adopt sanctions under the EU Human Rights Sanctions Regime against all responsible Hong Kong and Chinese officials.¶
- Reiterates its call on the Commission to start working on the suspension of Hong Kong's status under the WTO.¶
- Urges all member states to suspend extradition treaties with China and to protect persecuted individuals in the EU from the risks of transnational repression.¶
- Stresses that respect for human rights, media freedom and the rule of law must be at the core of EU-China relations and that violations will have implications on EU economic and political engagement with China.¶
Who is affected
- Lee Cheuk-yan, Chow Hang-tung and Albert Ho: Parliament demands their release and the dropping of charges.¶¶
- Leticia Wong Man-huen: Parliament condemns her arrest and demands she be released and charges dropped.¶¶
- Hong Kong and Chinese authorities: urged to release detainees, drop charges and repeal the National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance.¶¶
- Journalists, publishers and human rights defenders at risk: to receive EU practical and financial support, including emergency visas.¶
- Hong Kong and Chinese officials responsible for prosecutions: targeted for EU sanctions under the EU Human Rights Sanctions Regime.¶
Figures and deadlines
- 7 years: sentence for Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung.¶
- over 5 years: sentence for Albert Ho.¶
- 24 June 2026: date Leticia Wong Man-huen was arrested.¶
- 48 hours: time after which Leticia Wong was released on bail.¶
- March 2026: arrest of Book Punch bookstore staff.¶
- 20-year sentence: given to publisher Jimmy Lai.¶
- 2020: year of the Council Conclusions on Hong Kong that Parliament urges be reviewed.¶
Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text and ¶ links to the paragraph it rests on. Check the text itself before relying on it.