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

B100401/2026

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 its previous resolutions on Hong Kong and on the human rights situation in China,

having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), incorporated into Hong Kong law via Article 39 of the Basic Law and given effect through the Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance,

having regard to the Sino-British Joint Declaration of 19 December 1984 guaranteeing fundamental rights and freedoms in Hong Kong,

having regard to the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, in particular Articles 27 (freedom of speech, press and publication) and 39,

having regard to Rules 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

whereas on 24 June 2026 national security police arrested bookseller and journalist Leticia Wong, owner of Hunter Bookstore, on charges of "seditious intent" and receiving foreign funds, in connection with the sale of a biography of Jimmy Lai;

whereas on 21 August 2026 a panel of designated national security judges convicted up to ten years human rights lawyer Chow Hang-tung and labour activist Lee Cheuk-yan of "inciting subversion" for their role in commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown;

whereas these cases form part of an escalating pattern of prosecutions under the National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance targeting booksellers, journalists and civil society actors, in violation of Articles 19 and 27 of the ICCPR guaranteeing freedom of opinion, expression and peaceful assembly;

whereas such prosecutions are incompatible with the rights and freedoms the People's Republic of China committed to preserve under the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Basic Law;

Condemns the arrest of Leticia Wong and the conviction of Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung, and calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all individuals detained solely for exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly in Hong Kong and Macau, including Au Kam-san;

Recalls that Hong Kong remains bound by its ICCPR obligations and calls on the Hong Kong SAR and Chinese authorities to bring the National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance into conformity with these obligations;

Reiterates that the Sino-British Joint Declaration remains legally binding and calls on the Chinese authorities to honour the commitments made therein and in the Basic Law;

Strongly calls on China to ensure the prompt and effective implementation of the recommendations of the UN Human Rights Committee and that any legislation prohibiting any act of “endangering national security” specifically excludes from its remit the legitimate exercise of human rights;

Calls on EU to raise these cases systematically in all bilateral and multilateral engagements and effectively strengthen the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue, with clear benchmarks, meaningful civil society participation and follow-up mechanisms, so that it delivers tangible, verifiable results, including on the cases referred to above;

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