“The European Parliament continues to show its active support for the democrats in Hong Kong against the oppression of the Chinese communists”, said Reinhard Bütikofer MEP (Greens/EFA, Germany) and Chair of the European Parliament delegation for relations with China. On Thursday 7 July, MEPs adopted a resolution condemning the arrest of Cardinal Joseph Zen in Hong Kong, as well as those of four trustees of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund.
Cardinal Zen is seen as one of the greatest advocates of the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong. The 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund provides humanitarian and financial support to people injured, arrested or threatened during the demonstrations against the amendment of the anti-extradition law. The five were arrested in May on charges of “collusion with foreign forces”.
MEPs say the arrests are “symptomatic of China’s continued efforts to systematically destroy the last remnants of Hong Kong’s autonomy and freedoms and to suppress the pro-democracy movement”.
They urge the authorities to drop the charges against Cardinal Zen and the four trustees. The EU Council is calling for the introduction of sanctions against Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-Chiu and other officials responsible for the repression of human rights in the city, under the EU human rights sanctions regime.
They also call on the 10 European Member States that have not yet done so to suspend their extradition treaties with China and Hong Kong.
See the resolution: https://aeur.eu/f/2j4 (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)