Hong Kong Watch calls for EU to implement urgent actions included in European Parliament Joint-Resolution on Hong Kong

Today, the EU Parliament debated the recent arrests in Hong Kong under the National Security Law and unanimously passed a joint-resolution by 567 votes calling for the EU Commission and EU Member States to urgently act in response to the deteriorating human rights situation.

Hong Kong Watch calls for the EU 27 Foreign Ministers meeting on Monday to implement the urgent actions included in the European Parliament Joint-Resolution on Hong Kong.

The joint-resolution incorporated Hong Kong Watch’s calls for:

·       ‘The introduction of targeted sanctions against individuals in Hong Kong and China, including Carrie Lam, Teresa Yeuk-wah Cheng, Bao-long Xia, Xiao-ming Zhang, Hui-ning Luo, Yan-xiong Zheng, Ping-kien Tang, Wai-chung Lo and Ka-chiu Lee, under the EU human rights global sanction regime.’

·       ‘The implementation of a lifeboat scheme by the European Commission for Hong Kongers.’

·       ‘Member States to suspend their extradition treaties with the People’s Republic of China, to prevent the extradition of - for example - Uyghurs, citizens of Hong Kong, Tibetans, or Chinese dissidents in Europe to stand political trial in the People’s Republic of China.

·       ‘The EU to push for the UN Secretary General or the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to appoint a UN Special Envoy or Special Rapporteur on the situation in Hong Kong.’

·       ‘The immediate and unconditional release of the (10) Hong Kong activists caught on August 23 while allegedly trying to flee by boat, and for all charges against them to be dropped.’

The European Parliament in its resolution went onto to criticise the actions of HSBC and other banks freezing the assets of pro-democracy activists and churches, saying it:

‘Condemns the role of European based banks in aiding the Chinese authorities use of the National Security Law by the freezing of assets and bank accounts belonging to former pro-democracy lawmakers and religious leaders.’

European Parliamentarians also reiterated their concern about the EU-China Investment Partnership, stating that the Parliament:

·       ‘Regrets the fact that the decision for a political conclusion of the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) has not reflected the European Parliament’s requests in previous resolutions on Hong Kong for using investment negotiations as a leverage tool aiming at preserving Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy.’

·       ‘Regrets that, by rushing to reach this agreement while not taking concrete action against ongoing grave human right violations e.g. in Hong Kong, Xinjiang province and Tibet, the EU risks undermining its credibility as a global human rights actor.’

·       ‘Notes that the European Parliament will carefully scrutinise the agreement, including its provisions on labour rights and reminds the Commission that it will take the human rights situation in China, including in Hong Kong, into consideration when asked to endorse the investment agreement or future trade deals with the PRC.’

Commenting on the passing of the joint-resolution by the European Parliament, Benedict Rogers, Hong Kong Watch’s Chief Executive, said:

“Once again, the European Parliament has made its position crystal clear on the need for urgent action by the EU to respond to the crisis in Hong Kong.

The resolution, overwhelmingly adopted by parliamentarians, calls for a concrete package of measures to respond to the latest crackdown in Hong Kong, including the adoption of Magnitsky sanctions against a named list of Hong Kong and Chinese officials, the implementation of a lifeboat scheme, the suspension of extradition treaties by Member States with the PRC, the creation of a UN Special Rapporteur/envoy for Hong Kong, and for the inclusion of strong human rights provisions before any ratification of the EU-China Investment Partnership agreement.

I hope that when the EU 27 foreign ministers meet on Monday to discuss the matter, they will move immediately to implement the proposed measures by the European Parliament and offer more than words in support of the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong.”

The full joint resolution can be found here: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/RC-9-2021-0068_EN.html

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