Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong, one of the leaders of the pro-democracy struggle in Hong Kong, warned MEPs about the human rights situation on the ground and called on the European Union to put pressure on Beijing in a video interview with the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights on Monday 2 December.
“The police violence is more serious than you think”, the young activist insisted, denouncing the abuses committed by the Hong Kong security forces and the impunity to which they are subjected. “The EU is based on the defence of human rights on its territory, and, outside, it must not turn a blind eye to the tragedy in Hong Kong”, he said.
Joshua Wong drew the MEPs’ attention to countries “complicit in the violence” by making riot control equipment available to Hong Kong security forces. “I think the European Parliament has the means to stop the export of this kind of equipment”, he said.
He also called on the EU to take into account the human rights situation when concluding trade agreements with its Chinese partner. “The EU must remain attentive. When it is courted by China, it comes at a price”, he warned.
In response to Mr Wong, the European External Action Service (EEAS) recalled that, like Parliament (see EUROPE 12299/20), it had called for an investigation into the violence in Hong Kong. “It is an illusion to think that the situation will be resolved in any way until Beijing agrees to give the Hong Kong authorities some leeway”, said Jonathan Hatwell of the EEAS.
The chairwoman of the ‘Human Rights’ subcommittee, Maria Arena (S&D, Belgium), assured that the subcommittee would continue to monitor the situation closely. (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki, intern)