EU Parliament call for international lifeboat and magnitsky sanctions in joint resolution on Hong Kong

The European Parliament passed a Joint-Resolution on Hong Kong and the National Security Legislation. Endorsed by all the major party groupings within the European Parliament, the Joint-Resolution calls for the European Union:

-          To endorse the creation and participate in an international Contact Group to monitor the situation in Hong Kong.

-          To participate in an international lifeboat scheme for Hong Kongers in need for a lifeline in the event of a further crackdown.

-          To work with like minded partners to coordinate, where necessary, sanctions on the perpetrators of human rights abuses in Hong Kong.

-          To include a human rights clause in any future EU-China investment agreement.

-          To endorse the creation of a United Nations Special Envoy or Special Rapporteur on Hong Kong.

-          To consider taking China to the International Court of Justice in conjunction with the British Government for breaching the Sino-British Joint Declaration.

Commenting on the European Parliament’s Joint-Resolution on Hong Kong, Hong Kong Watch’s co-founder and Chair Benedict Rogers, said:

“The European Parliament’s Joint-Resolution is further evidence that parliamentarians across the political and geographic divide will not stand idly by while Beijing’s National Security Law snuffs out freedom, autonomy, and the rule of law in Hong Kong.

I hope that the European Commission will listen to the European Parliament and begin taking the necessary steps to ensure that the European Union joins with like-minded democratic partners to back the creation of an international contact group, a special UN envoy and human rights rapporteur, an international life-boat policy, and global Magnitsky sanctions, which taken together will ensure that the world stands with the people of Hong Kong.”