MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on situation in Hong Kong

16.7.2019 - (2019/2732(RSP))

with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 144 of the Rules of Procedure

Michael Gahler, Tomáš Zdechovský, Antonio Tajani, Romana Tomc, Eva Maydell, Andrius Kubilius, Roberta Metsola, Adam Jarubas, Krzysztof Hetman, Milan Zver, Ivan Štefanec, Andrey Kovatchev, Peter Pollák, Vladimír Bilčík, Michal Wiezik, Michaela Šojdrová, Željana Zovko, David McAllister, Andrzej Halicki, Isabel Wiseler‑Lima, Loránt Vincze, Dubravka Šuica, David Lega, Arba Kokalari, Sandra Kalniete
on behalf of the PPE Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B9-0013/2019

B9‑0021/2019

European Parliament resolution on situation in Hong Kong

(2019/2732(RSP))

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on Hong Kong,

- having regard to its recommendation of 13 December 2017 to the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on Hong Kong, 20 years after handover,

- having regard to the Statement by the Spokesperson of the European External Action Service (EEAS) on 12 June 2019 on the ongoing protests against the proposed extradition reforms in Hong Kong,

- having regard to the Statement on 1 July 2019 by the Spokesperson of the EEAS on the latest developments in Hong Kong,

- having regard to the Basic Law of the Special Administrative Region (SAR) of Hong Kong adopted on 4 April 1990, which entered into force on 1 July 1997,

- having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) of 1966,

-   having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948,

-   having regard to Rule 144 of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  whereas the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has proposed the Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2019 to amend the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance (FOO) and the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Ordinance (MLAO);

B. whereas according the HKSAR Government the aim of amending the FOO and the MLAO is to deal with two issues: “a homicide case happened in Taiwan in early 2018 involving a Hong Kong resident killing another Hong Kong resident, and the homicide suspect fled to Hong Kong” and “to simultaneously plug the loopholes in Hong Kong's overall co-operation mechanism in criminal and juridical assistance matters, including the geographical restrictions, that is to say being inapplicable to mainland China, Macao and Taiwan, and the impractical operational requirements under the existing ordinances”;

C. whereas protestors against the Bill have pointed out that upon passage of the proposed Bill, Hong Kong residents may be sent, for trial, to places where a fair and open judicial system is lacking, thus depriving them of the human rights protection under the Basic Law; whereas pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong fear to be extradited to mainland China;

D. whereas at the end of 2015, four Hong Kong residents and one non-resident associated with the publishing house Mighty Current and its bookshop disappeared, whereas months later, information emerged that they were detained in mainland China in undisclosed locations; whereas one of the booksellers who returned to Hong Kong has moved to Taiwan out of fear of being extradited;

E. whereas the people of Hong Kong have taken to the streets in unprecedented numbers, peacefully exercising their fundamental right to assemble and to protest;

F. whereas on 12 June Hong Kong police used beanbag rounds, rubber bullets, pepper spray, and batons on overwhelmingly peaceful protesters; whereas at least 81 protesters were injured, according to the Hong Kong Hospital Authority; whereas according to the police 22 officers were injured;

G. whereas the Basic Law lays down provisions providing protection for human rights and individual freedoms;

H. whereas the Chief Executive has stated on 9 July that she has put a stop to the amendment exercise, and that there is no plan to restart the process in the Legislative Council;

I. whereas protestors against the Bill said that they would continue to rally until the Bill was officially withdrawn;

1.  Calls on the HKSAR Government to withdraw the Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2019;

2. Underlines that Hong Kong’s legislation should remain fully in line with Hong Kong’s international human rights obligations, including provisions of the ICCPR;

3. Stresses that the EU shares many of the concerns raised by citizens of Hong Kong regarding the Government’s proposed extradition reforms, and has conveyed these to the HKSAR Government; underlines that the Bill has far-reaching consequences for Hong Kong and its people, for the EU and foreign citizens, as well as for business confidence in Hong Kong;

4. Calls for the release of peaceful protesters, and all those detained for the peaceful exercise of their freedom of expression;

5. Stresses that the Basic Law guarantees freedom of speech, of the press and publication, and of association, assembly, procession and demonstration;

6. Believes that restraint should be exercised by all sides; underlines that violence and escalatory responses must be avoided;

7. Calls for an independent, impartial, effective and prompt investigation into the use of force by Hong Kong police against protesters;

8. Underlines the European Union’s commitment to strengthening democracy, including the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, fundamental freedoms and rights, transparency, and freedom of information and expression in Hong Kong;

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the Vice‑President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.