European lawmakers call for an audit of European companies providing equipment to the Hong Kong Police Force

Last week, a group of European lawmakers from France, Germany, and the European Parliament wrote to European Commission President von der Leyen and French President Macron to call for an audit of European companies providing equipment to the Hong Kong Police Force.

The letter marked a visit by President von der Leyen and President Macron to Beijing to meet with General Secretary Xi Jinping, in which a number of French and European companies joined and bilateral investment and military agreements were signed between France and the People’s Republic of China.

Signatories to the letter include: Hubert Julien-Laferrière (Member of French Assembly, Écologiste - NUPES), Frank Müller-Rosentritt (Member of the Bundestag, FDP), Michael Brand (Member of the Bundestag, CDU), Miriam Lexmann (Member of the European Parliament, European People's Party), Reinhard Butikofer (Member of the European Parliament, Alliance 90/The Greens), Engin Eroglu (Member of the European Parliament, Renew), Javier Nart (Member of the European Parliament, Renew), Andrius Kubilius (Member of the European Parliament, European People's Party), Rasa Jukneviciene (Member of the European Parliament, European People’s Party), Pascal Durand (Member of the European Parliament, Socialists and Democrats Group), Michael Gahler (Member of the European Parliament, European People’s Party), and Frank Schwabe (Member of the Bundestag, SPD).

Writing to the two presidents, the lawmakers cited research by C4ADS into the procurement of equipment of the Hong Kong Police Force from 2017-2022 which has found that several European companies have been providing seemingly “non-lethal” equipment to the Hong Kong Police Force and other government departments that appear to be used by the authorities in its current crackdown on human rights. This includes the provision of police helicopters, radio and sensor systems, simulators, and high speed interceptor boats.

Companies named in the C4ADS research include: Airbus, Zodiac Milpro International, and Helisim (France), Vaisala Oyj (Finland), Palfinger Marine Netherland BV (Netherlands), and ANT Applied New Technologies AG (Germany).

In the case of Zodiac Milpro International (France) as of last year it continues to provide the Hong Kong Police Force with high speed interceptor boats. We have reason to believe these are the same boats that were used by the authorities to intercept and arrest pro-democracy protestors in August 2020 who were attempting to escape to Taiwan.

The letter cites the EU Council Conclusions on 24 July 2020, which included EU Member States ‘scrutinising and limiting exports of specific sensitive equipment and technologies for end-use in Hong Kong, in particular where there are grounds to suspect undesirable use relating to internal repression’, and urges the European Commission and European Member States to conduct a full audit of European companies that continue to have procurement contracts with the Hong Kong Government and the Hong Kong Police Force. 

The full letter can be read here.

Commenting on the letter, Anouk Wear, Hong Kong Watch’s Research and Policy Advisor, said:

"It is disappointing to see President Macron and President von der Leyen visiting Beijing and use this opportunity to profit French and European businesses, without addressing the human rights situation in China, including Hong Kong.

This is insult to injury at a time when some European companies appear to continue to supply the Hong Kong Police Force with equipment. European lawmakers are right to call for an urgent audit of these agreements.”