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 Renew Group · Rapporteur: Petras Auštrevičius, Karin Karlsbro, Malik Azmani, Svenja Hahn, Engin Eroglu, Hilde Vautmans, Jan-Christoph Oetjen, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez, Lucia Yar, Dan Barna, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Anna Stürgkh, Helmut Brandstätter, Ľubica Karvašová, Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová
Parliament's resolution condemns the arrest of bookseller Leticia Wong and the convictions of Lee Cheuk-yan, Chow Hang-tung and Albert Ho under Hong Kong's National Security Law.¶¶¶ It urges Hong Kong authorities to release them and all others detained for exercising fundamental freedoms, and to drop all charges.¶ It calls for repeal of the National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, and for EU member states to suspend extradition treaties with China.¶ It asks the Council to review its 2020 Conclusions on Hong Kong and adopt sanctions against Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and other officials.¶
Key points
- Leticia Wong and her husband were arrested on 24 June 2026 and accused of selling seditious materials under the National Security Law and of money laundering.¶
- Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung were sentenced to 7 years and Albert Ho to over 5 years in prison under the National Security Law for organizing Tiananmen vigils.¶
- The text states that since the beginning of June 2026, 401 individuals have been arrested for national security crimes and 182 convicted.¶
- It says China breached the Sino-British Joint Declaration, which guaranteed Hong Kong special status until 2047, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.¶
- Parliament condemns the arrest of Wong and the sentencing of Lee Cheuk-yan, Chow Hang-tung, Albert Ho and all other political prisoners.¶
- It urges Hong Kong authorities to release Wong, Cheuk-yan, Hang-tung, Ho and all others detained for exercising fundamental freedoms, and to drop all charges, naming Jimmy Lai and Joshua Wong.¶
- It denounces the prosecutions as a systematic effort to silence independent media, free speech and political opposition, and insists on repealing the National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance.¶
- It urges all EU member states to suspend extradition treaties with China and to protect persecuted individuals in the EU from transnational repression.¶
- It calls on the EU Delegation to intensify diplomatic engagement and monitoring of these cases and to raise Hong Kong human rights cases in every meeting with the Hong Kong side.¶
- It 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 Ka-chiu and responsible Hong Kong and PRC officials.¶
Who is affected
- Leticia Wong, Lee Cheuk-yan, Chow Hang-tung, Albert Ho and other detainees, for whom release and dropped charges are demanded.¶¶
- Hong Kong authorities, urged to release detainees, drop charges and repeal the National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance.¶¶
- EU member states, urged to suspend extradition treaties with China and protect persecuted individuals from transnational repression.¶
- The Council, urged to review its 2020 Conclusions on Hong Kong and adopt sanctions against named officials.¶
- The EU Delegation, asked to intensify diplomatic engagement and monitoring and raise Hong Kong human rights cases in meetings.¶
Figures and deadlines
- 24 June 2026, the date Leticia Wong and her husband were arrested.¶
- up to seven years in prison for seditious intentions and up to fourteen years for money laundering, the sentences they could face.¶
- 7 years, the sentence for Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung; over 5 years for Albert Ho.¶
- 2020, the year the National Security Law was introduced; 2024, the year of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance.¶
- 401 individuals arrested and 182 convicted for national security crimes since the beginning of June 2026.¶
- 2047, the year until which the Sino-British Joint Declaration guaranteed Hong Kong special status.¶
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.