Sittings · Document

Adopted text 2026-09-17

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

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 19 Sept 2026

Parliament's resolution condemns the dismantling of freedoms in Hong Kong through the National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, and calls for their repeal. It condemns the arrest of bookseller Leticia Wong and the sentencing of Lee Cheuk-yan, Chow Hang-tung, Albert Ho and other political prisoners. It urges Hong Kong authorities to release Wong, Lee, Chow, Ho, Lai and all others detained for exercising fundamental freedoms and to drop all charges. It calls on the EU to raise these cases in all bilateral and multilateral engagements, to strengthen the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue, and urges the Council to adopt sanctions against Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and responsible officials. It urges Member States to suspend extradition treaties with China and to protect persecuted individuals in the EU from transnational repression.

Key points

  1. Parliament condemns the intensified dismantling of freedom of expression, media freedom and freedom of peaceful assembly and association in Hong Kong through the NSL and SNSO, and calls for their repeal.
  2. It condemns the arrest of Leticia Wong and the sentencing of Lee Cheuk-yan, Chow Hang-tung, Albert Ho and all other political prisoners.
  3. It urges Hong Kong authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Wong, Lee, Chow, Ho, Lai and all others detained for exercising fundamental freedoms, and to drop all charges.
  4. It recalls Hong Kong's ICCPR obligations and states that the Sino-British Joint Declaration remains legally binding, calling on Chinese authorities to honour commitments made therein and in the Hong Kong Basic Law.
  5. It urges the EU Delegation to intensify diplomatic engagement and monitoring regarding the situation of Wong, Lee, Chow, Ho, Lai and related cases.
  6. It stresses that human rights, media freedom and the rule of law must be at the core of EU-China relations, and calls for these issues to be raised systematically in all bilateral and multilateral engagements and for the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue to be strengthened.
  7. It urges the Council to urgently adopt sanctions under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime against Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and all Hong Kong and Chinese officials responsible for the crackdown on freedoms.
  8. It urges all Member States to suspend extradition treaties with China and to protect persecuted individuals in the EU from the risks of transnational repression.

Who is affected

  • Hong Kong authorities, who are urged to release detainees, drop charges and repeal the NSL and SNSO.
  • Chinese authorities, who are called on to honour commitments in the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Hong Kong Basic Law.
  • The Council, which is urged to adopt sanctions against Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and responsible officials.
  • Member States, which are urged to suspend extradition treaties with China and protect persecuted individuals in the EU.
  • The EU Delegation, which is urged to intensify diplomatic engagement and monitoring on the cases.

Figures and deadlines

  • Leticia Wong and her husband were arrested on 24 June 2026.
  • They could face between 7 and 21 years in prison.
  • Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung were sentenced to seven years, and Albert Ho to over five years.
  • Jimmy Lai is serving a 20-year prison sentence.
  • Since the beginning of June 2026, 401 people have been arrested for national security crimes, and 182 convicted.

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