Sittings · Document

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION (2026/2873(RSP)) 2026-09-14

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 S&D Group · Rapporteur: Yannis Maniatis, Francisco Assis, Sakis Arnaoutoglou

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 17 Sept 2026

Parliament's resolution condemns the arrest of bookseller Leticia Wong and the convictions of Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung in Hong Kong, and calls for the release of people detained for exercising freedom of expression, association and assembly. It says Hong Kong must meet its ICCPR obligations and that the National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance should be brought into line with them. It states the Sino-British Joint Declaration remains legally binding and asks China to honour its commitments and implement UN Human Rights Committee recommendations. It asks the EU to raise these cases in all bilateral and multilateral engagements and to strengthen the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue with benchmarks, civil society participation and follow-up.

Key points

  1. Parliament condemns the arrest of Leticia Wong and the convictions of Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung.
  2. It calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all individuals detained solely for exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly in Hong Kong and Macau, including Au Kam-san.
  3. It recalls that Hong Kong remains bound by its ICCPR obligations.
  4. It calls on the Hong Kong SAR and Chinese authorities to bring the National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance into conformity with those obligations.
  5. It reiterates that the Sino-British Joint Declaration remains legally binding and calls on the Chinese authorities to honour the commitments made in it and in the Basic Law.
  6. It strongly calls on China to ensure prompt and effective implementation of the UN Human Rights Committee's recommendations.
  7. It asks that any legislation prohibiting acts of “endangering national security” specifically exclude the legitimate exercise of human rights from its remit.
  8. It calls on the EU to raise these cases systematically in all bilateral and multilateral engagements.
  9. It calls for the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue to be effectively strengthened with clear benchmarks, meaningful civil society participation and follow-up mechanisms, so that it delivers tangible, verifiable results, including on these cases.

Who is affected

  • Leticia Wong, bookseller and journalist, arrested on charges of “seditious intent” and receiving foreign funds.
  • Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung, convicted of “inciting subversion”.
  • Individuals detained in Hong Kong and Macau for exercising freedom of expression, association and assembly, including Au Kam-san.
  • Hong Kong SAR and Chinese authorities, asked to align national security laws with ICCPR obligations and honour the Sino-British Joint Declaration and Basic Law.
  • The EU, asked to raise the cases in bilateral and multilateral engagements and strengthen the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue.

Figures and deadlines

  • 24 June 2026: date national security police arrested Leticia Wong.
  • 21 August 2026: date Chow Hang-tung and Lee Cheuk-yan were convicted.
  • up to ten years: sentence faced by Chow Hang-tung and Lee Cheuk-yan.
  • 19 December 1984: date of the Sino-British Joint Declaration.

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