On Thursday 25 April, the European Parliament adopted by a show of hands a resolution tabled by the Greens/EFA, S&D, EPP, Renew Europe and ECR groups urging the Hong Kong government to immediately and unconditionally release Andy Li, Joseph John, Jimmy Lai, Kok Tsz-lun and all other pro-democracy representatives and activists detained for exercising their democratic rights and freedoms.
The MEPs paid special attention to the following two cases: - Andy Li, pro-democracy activist and key witness in the Jimmy Lai trial (see EUROPE 13316/32), is said to have confessed, under torture, to conspiracy and collusion with foreign entities; - Joseph John, a Hungarian and Portuguese national, was arrested for allegedly posting anti-China content on social media and committing “incitement to secession” from Europe.
Parliament also condemned the adoption by the Hong Kong Legislative Council of the National Security Ordinance, considering that it extends the National Security Law imposed by the People’s Republic of China and “authorises even more radical infringements of basic freedoms and liberties”.
To see the resolution, go to https://aeur.eu/f/byx (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)