Hong Kong Watch visits Brussels to discuss cases of Political Prisoners, National Security Law, extradition treaties, and Hong Kong’s autonomous status

During the week of 21 March 2022, Hong Kong Watch staff, alongside pro-democracy activists in exile Ray Wong and Finn Lau, met with the co-chairs and members of the Hong Kong EU Parliament Friendship Group, permanent representative offices from seven EU Member States, the EEAS, David Lega MEP, Brando Benifei MEP, Isabel Santos MEP, and party staff from the Renew, S&D, and EPP groups in Brussels, Belgium.

We raised the cases of political prisoners in Hong Kong, discussed Hong Kong Watch’s recent targeting under the National Security Law, called on EU Member States to finally suspend their extradition treaties with Hong Kong and the PRC, and urged EU officials and lawmakers to review Hong Kong’s autonomous status in light of the ongoing human rights crackdown.

Despite the EU’s focus this week being on the war in Ukraine, we found that lawmakers, officials, and EU Member States remain increasingly concerned about the situation in Hong Kong and are ready to work with Hong Kong Watch and pro-democracy activists in exile to hold Beijing to account for its ongoing breaches of the Sino-British Joint Declaration.