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The European Union Parliament has called for Hong Kong to immediately and unconditionally release of representatives of the democratic opposition and activists arrested in Hong Kong in the first two weeks of this year.
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Lawmakers in Brussels also called for the release of all those previously detained on charges of subversion under the National Security Law for Hong Kong.
Parliament also urged EU countries to consider introducing targeted sanctions against individuals in Hong Kong and China, including Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam, under the EU Human Rights Global Sanction Regime.
The Parliament adopted a resolution taking stock of the human rights situation in Hong Kong, Turkey and Vietnam.
The same goes for all peaceful Hong Kong protesters, activists and members of the political opposition arrested on politically motivated charges, the EU lawmakers said.
These include the prominent opposition figures Joshua Wong, Ivan Lam, and Agnes Chow, whose charges should all be dropped, says the Parliament.
The lawmakers regret that the recent decision to reach a political conclusion of the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment did not reflect Parliament’s requests to use investment negotiations as a leverage tool to preserve Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy. By rushing to reach this agreement and not taking concrete action against the serious and ongoing human rights violations, the EU risks undermining its credibility as a global human rights actor, they say.
The text of the resolution was approved by 597 votes in favor, 17 against and 61 abstentions. See the full resolution here.
