MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the arrest of Cardinal Zen and the trustees of the 612 relief fund in Hong Kong

B9‑0362/2022

European Parliament resolution on the arrest of Cardinal Zen and the trustees of the 612 relief fund in Hong Kong

(2022/27512022/2751(RSP))

The European Parliament,

-  having regard to its resolutions on violations of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong from 20 January 2022, on Hong Kong notably the case of Apple Daily from 8 July 2021, on the crackdown on the democratic opposition in Hong Kong from 21 January 2021, and to its other and previous resolutions on China,

-  having regard to the Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the Chief Executive election in Hong Kong held on 8 May 2022,

-  having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 10 December 1948,

-  having regard to Rule 144 of its Rules of Procedure,

1. whereas the promotion of and respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law should be at the centre of the EU’s relations with China, in line with the EU’s commitment to uphold these values in its external action and China’s commitment to adhere to them in its own development and international cooperation;

2. whereas Cardinal Zen and the trustees of the 612 relief fund in Hong Kong have been under arrest;

1. Condemns the arrest of Cardinal Joseph Zen, one of the strongest advocates of the city's pro-democracy movement, which is an attack on freedom of religion or belief in Hong Kong, and is symptomatic of the PRC's continued efforts to undermine Hong Kong's high level of autonomy and freedoms and to suppress the pro-democracy movement;

2. Calls on HKSAR authorities to drop all charges against Cardinal Zen and the other trustees of the 612 relief fund and release them;

3. Calls on the Vatican to issue emergency travel documents to Cardinal Zen and other religious leaders who face persecution or the possibility of becoming detained under the national security regime in Hong Kong;

4. Underlines that, marking the 25th anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong and the 2nd anniversary of the introduction of the so-called National Security Law in Hong Kong, the PRC is in continued breach of its obligations under the Sino-British Joint Declaration to uphold Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy under the “One Country, Two Systems” model, the rule of law, and human rights;

5. Stresses that through the handpicking of the former Security Minister and police officer John Lee and Beijing’s electoral reforms, Hong Kong’s Government is no longer autonomous of Beijing under the previous “One Country, Two Systems” model;

6. Calls on the Council to introduce targeted sanctions under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime (the EU’s Magnitsky-style sanctions) against John Lee and all other Hong Kong and PRC officials responsible for the ongoing human rights crackdown in Hong Kong;

7. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to review the Agreement between the European Community and Hong Kong/China on cooperation and mutual administrative assistance in customs matters, the status of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels, and Hong Kong’s seat at the World Trade Organization;

8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Government and Parliament of the People’s Republic of China, and the Chief Executive and the Assembly of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.