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

B100211/2024

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

(2024/2950(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–having regard to all its previous resolutions on Hong Kong,

–having regard to Rules 150(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. Whereas the fundamental freedoms in Hong-Kong were severely undermined since the entry into force of the National Security Law (NSL) in 2020 and the Article 23 law in March 2024, foreseeing heavy prison sentences for those condemned for secession, subversion, espionage, terrorism, external interference or collusion with external forces;

B. Whereas Jimmy Lai is detained since December 2020 for violation of the NSL, based on dubious charges of collusion with foreign forces and sedition; whereas his trial started on 25 September 2023 and he testified for the first time on 20 November 2024; whereas he denied these charges and he faces life imprisonment if convicted; whereas his independent media outlets, Apple Daily and Stand News, were shut down by the government;

C. Whereas 45 pro-democracy activists were sentenced on 19 November 2024 to four to ten years in jail, based on alleged conspiracy to commit subversion under the application of the NSL; whereas their trials were among the largest national security trials to date;

1.Calls for the Hong Kong Government to immediately and unconditionally release and drop all charges against any of the 45 pro-democracy activists, Jimmy Lai and all detained journalists, who were prosecuted for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression, to peaceful assembly and association;

2.Condemns the Court arrests in blatant violation of international law and Human Rights obligations; requests their convictions and sentences to be reviewed by appellate courts against the international human rights obligations; calls for all cases not fully meeting those standards to be withdrawn;

3.Expresses its grave concerns about the rapid destruction of the principles of the rule of law and the violation of fundamental rights and freedoms, including the rights of freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and fair trial under the application of the NSL;

4.Urges the authorities to repeal the NSL, which is in breach of international law, and its extra-territorial application; calls on the EC and the MS to demand its abrogation in every engagement with the Hong-Kong and PRC officials; condemns the misuse of criminal law by the authorities to silence calls for accountability for human rights breaches;

5.Reminds its calls to the EU and its Member States to file a case in the ICJ against China’s decision to impose the NSL in Hong Kong and Macau, in violation of the Sino-British and Portuguese Joint Declarations and the ICCPR.

6.Recalls its demand to the Council to adopt sanctions under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime against Chief Executive John Lee and all HK and PRC officials responsible for the crackdown on freedoms in HK;

7.Calls on the establishment of an EU-funded legal defence fund specifically for democratic activists, to support their legal representation domestically and internationally;

8.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the EU Institutions, the governments and parliaments of Hong-Kong and of China.