Conviction and imminent sentencing of Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong

EP Position

The Parliament condemns Jimmy Lai’s conviction and imminent sentencing and urges the Hong Kong authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Lai and all others detained for exercising their freedoms, to drop all charges and to guarantee their fundamental rights while providing specialised medical care to those in need; it reiterates its strong condemnation of the National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance and calls for their repeal, stressing that Lai’s prosecution exemplifies the systematic use of state security laws to eliminate independent media, free speech and the political opposition.

Key Trade Point

The resolution condemns escalating transnational repression and calls on Member States to suspend extradition treaties with China and Hong Kong and on the Commission to initiate the suspension of Hong Kong’s status under the World Trade Organization, while warning that a life sentence for Lai would have severe consequences for EU-China relations.

What Comes Next

The Parliament instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission and the Council and to the People’s Republic of China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.