On the new security law in Hong Kong and the cases of Andy Li and Joseph John

B90254/2024

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the new security law in Hong Kong and the cases of Andy Li and Joseph John

(2024/2700(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Hong Kong,

– having regard to Rules 144(5) and 132(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas since the entry into force of the National Security Law (NSL) on 30 June 2020, the freedom of expression for civil society in Hong Kong is continuing to shrink and the human rights situation in Hong Kong continues to deteriorate at an alarming speed, in particular due to the adoption of a new domestic and more severe version of the NSL, the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance known as ‘Article 23’, on 19 March 2024;

B. whereas 76-year-old British citizen Jimmy Lai has been detained since February 2021 on trumped-up charges under the NSL for colluding with foreign forces and publishing “seditious publications” and standing trial since December 2023 facing a potential life sentence;

C. whereas Andy Li, one of 12 Hong Kong pro-democracy activists who tried to flee to Taiwan by speedboat but was intercepted by the Chinese authorities and taken to prison in mainland China, is providing a testimony allegedly obtained through torture in the case of Jimmy Lai; whereas the United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture wrote to the PRC to express major concerns over Andy Li’s testimony;

D. whereas political prisoners remain imprisoned throughout a lengthy pre-trial detention period in very difficult conditions, many suffering serious health problems; whereas this has been the case for prominent pro-democracy representatives such as Jimmy Lai, Albert Ho, Benny Tai, Chow Hang-Tung, Lee Cheuk-yan, Joshua Wong and Cyd Ho;

E. whereas Polish national Aleksandra Bielakowska who intended to monitor the trial of Jimmy Lai, was detained upon arrival, interrogated and deported from Hong Kong;

1. Urges the Hong Kong authorities to repeal the NSL and Article 23 completely;

2. Expresses its deep concern for Andy Li, who was reportedly subjected to torture while in a Shenzhen prison from 2020 to 2021, including alleged subject to restraint chairs (tiger chairs) to force confessions;

3. Reiterates its calls on the government of Hong Kong to immediately and unconditionally release and to ultimately drop all charges against Jimmy Lai, Andy Li Joseph John and all the other pro-democracy representatives and activists, who exercised their freedom of expression, basic and human rights; calls on the authorities to stop impeding the work of all journalists;

4. Reiterates its calls on the Council to introduce targeted sanctions under the EU global human rights sanctions regime against Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee and all other Hong Kong and PRC officials responsible for the ongoing crackdown on human rights in Hong Kong;

5. Expresses its concern about the extra-territorial application of the NSL and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance particularly in the case of Portuguese national Joseph John;

6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the VP/HR, the Government and Parliament of the People’s Republic of China, the EU Office in Hong Kong, the Chief Executive and Legislative Council of the Hong Kong SAR.