On Hong Kong, notably the cases of Jimmy Lai and the 45 activists recently convicted under the application of national security law

B100208/2024

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on Hong Kong, notably the cases of Jimmy Lai and the 45 activists recently convicted under the application of national security law

(2024/2950(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas since the PRC imposed the National Security Law (NSL) in 2020, fundamental freedoms, rule of law, judiciary’s independence in Hong Kong (HK) have been put in jeopardy; whereas, since, hundreds of pro-democracy activists have been arrested under the NSL, and more than 150 have been charged;

B. whereas the PRC breaches the “One Country Two Systems” principle and the Sino-British Joint Declaration;

C. whereas, on 18 November 2024, 45 leading pro-democracy politicians, activists, union officials, journalists, academics and student leaders were sentenced to up to 10 years prison for subversion under the so-called “Hong Kong 47” case, due to their attempt at organising unofficial election primaries in 2020;

D. Whereas most of the defendants had pleaded guilty in hopes of receiving reduced sentences and escape the penalty of life imprisonment;

E. Whereas the 77 year-old Jimmy Lai, founder of the independent media outlet Apple Daily and prominent pro-democratic figure, has been detained almost four years in solitary confinement, being accused of collusion with foreign forces and fraud under the NSL; whereas his health conditions have been seriously deteriorating;

F. whereas Lai testified in his trial for the first time on 20 November 2024 and pleaded not guilty of foreign collusion;

G. Whereas on 26 September 2024, two former editors-in-chief of now defunct independent media Stand News, Chung Pui-kuen and Patrick Lam, have been sentenced for “seditious publications”;

1. Strongly condemns the latest sentencing of pro-democracy representatives under the “Hong Kong 47 case”;

2. Urges the HK authorities to immediately and unconditionally release and drop all charges against all pro-democracy representatives and activists, who are being persecuted for exercising their freedoms and democratic rights;

3. Demands the immediate and unconditional release of journalist Chung Pui-kuen;

4. In light of the more prominent competition and rivalry dimensions of the EU-China relation, and taking into account its multiple requests, urges on the HRVP and the Council to no further delay the introduction of targeted sanctions under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime against John Lee and all other HK and PRC officials responsible for the human rights crackdown in the city;

5. calls on the EEAS to keep adequately supporting the HK EU Office to intensify trial observation and human rights monitoring by releasing public statements and appointing a human rights focal point for human rights defenders;

6 calls on the EEAS, Commission and Member States to raise the issue of HK with PRC authorities and reminds this will have consequences for the EU-China relation;

7. calls on the Commission to consider suspending any favourable treatment to HK deriving from its status of separate customs territory from the PRC;

8. reiterates its call on all EU Member States to suspend extradition treaties with the PRC and Hong Kong;

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to EU institutions, the PRC Government and Parliament, the HK Chief Executive and the LegCo and the EU Office in HK.