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

B100398/2026

European Parliament resolution 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

(2026/2873(RSP))

The European Parliament,

having regard to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas Leticia Wong Man-huen, a journalist and former pro-democracy district councillor and the owner of Hunter Bookstore, was arrested on 24 June 2026, released on bail 48 hours later, while still remaining under investigation, for selling seditious materials in breach of the National Security Law (NSL) and for money laundering;

B. Whereas Hong Kong (HK) activists, Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung, were sentenced to 7 years and former lawmaker Albert Ho to over 5 years in prison, after being convicted under the NSL for organizing annual vigils to commemorate the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre and for breaching the Chinese constitution by calling for an "end to one-party dictatorship";

C. Whereas the politically motivated prosecution of pro-democracy representatives and activists, has already gravely undermined confidence in the rule of law as enshrined in the HK Basic Law;

D. whereas these cases follow a pattern of repression against independent publishing, including the arrest of Book Punch bookstore staff in March 2026 and the 20-year sentence against publisher Jimmy Lai;

E. Whereas all NSL cases have constituted violations of HK’s international obligations and of the Sino-British Joint Declaration;

1. Strongly condemns the sentencing of Lee Cheuk-yan, Chow Hang-tung and Albert Ho, and the arrest of Leticia Wong Man-huen; urges the authorities to immediately release them and drop all the charges against them, as well as in respect of all pro-democratic representatives, activists, journalists, human rights defenders convicted or detained for peaceful expression and exercising their fundamental rights and freedoms;

2. Strongly denounces all these arbitrary prosecutions and urges the authorities of HK and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to repeal the NSL and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, to restore full respect for freedom of expression and of the press, judicial independence and the rule of law in HK;

3. Calls on the HR/VP, the EEAS and the Member States (MS) to intensify the observation of relevant trials, request prison visits and strengthen practical and financial support, including emergency visas, for journalists, publishers and human rights defenders at risk and their families;

4. Urges the Council to review its 2020 Conclusions on Hong Kong and to immediately adopt sanctions under the EU Human Rights Sanctions Regime against all responsible HK and PRC officials; reiterates its call on the Commission to start working on the suspension of HK status under the WTO;

Urges all MS to suspend extradition treaties with China and to protect persecuted individuals in the EU from the risks of transnational repression;

Stress that respect for human rights, media freedom and the rule of law must be at the core of EU-China relations and that human rights violations will have implications on EU’s economic and political engagement with the PRC;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission and the Council, the PRC and the HK Special Administrative Region.