On Thursday 21 January, MEPs called for the immediate and unconditional release of those arrested on National Security Law (NSL) charges and those who have taken part in peaceful demonstrations in Hong Kong in recent years, and for all charges against them to be dropped (see EUROPE 12630/5).
The authorities must respect the Rule of law, human rights, democratic principles and Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy established under the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, as enshrined in Hong Kong’s Basic Law and in accordance with national and international obligations, stresses the European Parliament in a joint resolution by the Renew Europe, ECR, Greens/EFA, S&D, and EPP groups that was adopted by a large majority (597 votes in favour, 17 against and 61 abstentions).
Parliament also called on authorities to immediately refrain from further use of the NSL to suppress the rights to freedom of speech, peaceful assembly and association. “It is important to prevent the disqualification of district councillors, as well as any change to the electoral law that would further limit the space of the pro-democracy camp”, warn the elected officials.
Parliament also calls on the Council of the European Union, the European External Action Service and the Commission to improve their coordination in order to achieve effective implementation of the Hong Kong package adopted in July 2020 (see EUROPE 12538/10). It said the EU Council should intensify its assessment of these measures and quickly consider the introduction of targeted sanctions against people in both Hong Kong and China as part of the EU’s comprehensive human rights sanctions regime.
On Monday 25 January, the Foreign Affairs Council will return to the situation in Hong Kong.
See the joint resolution: http://bit.ly/3iwvsUx (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)