Motion for a resolution - B9-0276/2023Motion for a resolution
B9-0276/2023

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the deterioration of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong, notably the case of Jimmy Lai

13.6.2023 - (2023/2737(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

Reinhard Bütikofer, Jordi Solé, Hannah Neumann, Henrike Hahn, Bronis Ropė, Francisco Guerreiro, Ignazio Corrao, Malte Gallée, Nicolae Ştefănuță, Heidi Hautala, Viola von Cramon‑Taubadel, Alviina Alametsä
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B9-0276/2023

NB: This motion for a resolution is available in the original language only.
Procedure : 2023/2737(RSP)
Document stages in plenary
Document selected :  
B9-0276/2023
Texts tabled :
B9-0276/2023
Debates :
Texts adopted :

B9‑0276/2023

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the deterioration of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong, notably the case of Jimmy Lai

(2023/2737(RSP))

The European Parliament,

 having regard to its previous resolutions on Hong Kong and on China,

 having regard to Rule 144 of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  whereas since the Chinese government imposed the National Security Law (NSL) on June 30 2020, Hong Kong and Beijing officials have decapitated the once-thriving pro-democracy movement; whereas the PRC fully breaches the “One Country Two Systems” principle and the Sino-British Declaration;

B.  whereas in June 2021 the headquarter of Apple Daily, the largest pro-opposition newspaper, was forced to close down and his founder Jimmy Lai was arrested and faces a potential life sentence under the NSL;

C. whereas political prisoners are generally jailed even during lengthy pre-trial detention, in very difficult conditions, while many of them are very senior and in very precarious health conditions;

D.  whereas on the occasion of the latest Tiananmen 4 June anniversary the police declared 32 detentions, including many prominent pro-dem activists, Tsui hon-kwong, Chan Po-ying, Leo Tang, Mak Yin-ting;

1.  urges the government of Hong Kong to immediately and unconditionally release Jimmy Lai and all the other representatives of the pro-dem camp and activists that have been convicted or detained based on the NSL; expresses its deep concern for Chow Han-tung, a former organiser of the Tiananmen vigils who had  been placed on solidarity confinement for her 34 hour hunger strike, and for Albert Ho, former academic and LegCo member, whose bail was lifted on futile legal grounds and who suffers from cancer;

2.   strongly reiterates its calls to the Council to introduce targeted sanctions under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime against John Lee and all other Hong Kong and PRC officials responsible for the ongoing human rights crackdown in the city;

3.  calls on the EEAS to adequately support the EU Office to continue conducting and intensifying trial observation, in coordination with representations of EU Member States and like-minded countries, human rights monitoring, by releasing public statements, appointing a human rights focal point for human rights defenders and raising their cases with the authorities at all levels; calls on the EEAS and the EU Office to report regularly on the most prominent trials; calls on the EU office to request a visit to a prison;

4.  Expresses deep concern at ongoing extra-territorial policing, surveillance and intimidation by official and non-official actors from the PRC of Chinese and Hong Kong diaspora groups in the EU, which includes forced returns and arrests or interrogations immediately after arrival in China or Hong Kong; calls on the EU and its Member States to identify and close down any avenues facilitating China’s campaigns of transnational repression, and offer protection to vulnerable diaspora groups in Europe;

5.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Government and Parliament of the People’s Republic of China, and the Chief Executive and the Assembly of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

 

 

Last updated: 13 June 2023
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