MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Hong Kong, notably the cases of Jimmy Lai and the 45 activists recently convicted under the national security law

B10‑0212/2024

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

(2024/2950(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to its previous resolutions on Hong Kong (HK) and the People’s Republic of China (PRC),

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

1. whereas since the PRC’s imposition of the National Security Law (NSL) on Hong Kong in 2020 and the passing of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO) in 2024, fundamental rights, the rule of law and media freedom have dramatically deteriorated in Hong Kong; whereas the PRC has decisively breached the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, the Sino-British and Sino-Portuguese Joint Declarations and international human rights obligations;

2. whereas Jimmy Lai has been arbitrarily detained and held in solitary confinement since December 2020 on charges arising from the peaceful exercise of his fundamental rights and his journalism; whereas he has been denied his choice of legal representation during his excessively delayed trial; whereas if convicted, he faces life imprisonment; whereas his health situation is deteriorating and he has been denied communion in detention;

3. whereas on 19 November 2024 the Hong Kong government issued sentences of between 4 and 10 years for 45 of the ‘Hong Kong 47’ democrats; whereas after their arrest in January 2021 they were accused of subversion under the NSL for organising peaceful “unofficial” primary elections for the Hong Kong Legislative Council in 2020;

4. whereas Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices (HKETOs) abroad, including in Europe, offer tacit support for Beijing’s undermining of Hong Kong’s political autonomy, independent judiciary, and rule of law; whereas this raises concern about foreign interference, particularly in anticipation of greater transnational repression against Hong Kongers in the EU under the SNSO;

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1. Strongly condemns the unjust imprisonment of Jimmy Lai and his ongoing ill-treatment and denial of communion; condemns the sentencing to prison of pro-democracy politicians and activists in the “Hong Kong 47” case;

2. Demands the Hong Kong authorities to release Jimmy Lai and the Hong Kong 47 immediately and unconditionally, as well as all others detained for exercising their freedoms and democratic rights, and to drop all charges against them;

3. Denounces the degradation of the rule of law, human rights and freedom of speech in Hong Kong and urges the authorities to repeal the NSL and SNSO;

4. Calls on the EEAS to closely monitor the unprecedented human rights abuses in Hong Kong and the PRC, and to closely follow Lai’s trial;

5. Urges 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 Hong Kong;

6. Condemns attempts by the PRC to target Hong Kong diaspora communities within the EU; calls on Members States to suspend the extradition treaties with Hong Kong and the PRC; calls on the EU and Member States to review the status, privileges, and immunities of the HKETOs;

7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Government and Parliaments of the Hong Kong and the PRC.