On the new security law in Hong Kong and the cases of Andy Li and Joseph John

B90241/2024

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the new security law in Hong Kong and the cases of Andy Li and Joseph John

(2024/2700(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–having regard to Rules 144(5) and 132(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.whereas the Legislative Council of Hong Kong adopted the ‘Safeguarding National Security Bill’, called Article 23, on 19 March 2024;

B.whereas this new law further erodes civil liberties, by expanding the national security law, covering treason, sedition, external interference, sabotage or espionage of state secrets; whereas it endangers the work of the EU Office, the Member States’ Consulates-General, the EU citizens, organisations and companies; whereas this law is another pattern of the PRC breaches of the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, the Sino-British and Sino-Portuguese Joint Declarations and the ICCPR;

C.whereas Joseph John, a dual Chinese Portuguese national, is the first EU citizen jailed under the extra-territorial application and the new Chinese imposed Article 23 law; whereas he was arrested for posting alleged pro-independence and anti-China content on social media and was convicted for alleged incitement to "secession" committed from Europe, and sentenced on 11 April to five years in jail;

D.whereas Andy Li, a pro-democracy activist and key witness in the trial of Jimmy Lai, was tortured in prison in China; whereas Andy Li confessed under torture alleged conspiration with Jimmy Lai to collude with foreign entities to endanger the national security;

1.Condemns the adoption of the Article 23 Law, which further imposes severe restrictions on freedom of expression, media freedom and freedom of association; is deeply concerned by the extra-territorial and retroactive application of the new national security law; demands the Hong-Kong authorities to urgently repeal both national security laws;

2.Urges the Hong Kong Government to immediately and unconditionally release and drop all charges against Joseph John, Andy Li, Kok Tsz-Lun and any pro-democracy representatives and activists, including Jimmy Lai, exercising their freedom of expression and basic and human rights; calls on the authorities to stop impeding the work of these activists and journalists located in Hong-Kong and in the EU such as Reporters without Borders;

3.Urges the Chinese and Hong-Kong authorities to abide by the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, the Hong-Kong basic law and their international commitments;

4.Reiterates its calls on the Council to introduce EU sanctions against John Lee and all Hong Kong and PRC officials responsible for the crackdown on freedoms in Hong Kong;

5.Urges the European Commission and the Member States to raise and condemn the National Security laws in every engagement with the Hong-Kong and PRC officials;

6.Condemns transnational repression by the Chinese authorities against Hong Kong diaspora communities within the EU through notably the overseas police stations; reiterates its call to EU Member States to suspend extradition treaties with the PRC and Hong Kong, to repeal cooperation agreements in the security area, and to introduce lifeboat schemes for Hong Kong pro-democracy activists and journalists at risk;

7.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the EU institutions, the Government and Parliament of the PRC, the Chief Executive and the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.