After EU parliament calls for release of jailed pro-democracy activists, Hong Kong slams ‘groundless accusations’
Hong Kong Free Press
The European Parliament has passed a non-binding resolution calling for the unconditional release of Hong Kong pro-democracy activists and sanctions against city officials, a move that prompted condemnation from the city’s government.
The Hong Kong government on Thursday issued a statement condemning what it called “groundless accusations” made in the resolution, which named Chief Executive John Lee among potential sanctions targets “responsible for the human rights crackdown in the city.”
The resolution passed on Thursday urged Hong Kong authorities to “immediately and unconditionally release and drop all charges against all pro-democracy representatives and activists, who are being persecuted for exercising their freedoms and democratic rights.”
The European Union’s top legislative body passed the resolution with 473 votes in favour, and 23 against, while 98 abstained. Such resolutions are non-binding, meaning recipients are not obliged to follow calls from the parliament.
The resolution came a little more than a week after 45 democracy advocates including prominent activist Joshua Wong and former legal scholar Benny Tai were handed prison sentences ranging from four years and two months to 10 years.
The European Parliament resolution also called for the release of Chung Pui-kuen, the former chief editor of now-defunct media outlet Stand News who was sentenced to one year and nine months in prison this September.
‘Groundless attacks, malicious slanders’
In its statement, the Hong Kong government rejected the “groundless attacks, malicious slanders and smears,” and maintained that all countries were duty-bound to safeguard national security.
See also: 4 Hong Kong democrats seek to challenge conviction and sentence in landmark subversion case
“Implementation of relevant legislation has enabled the livelihood and economic activities of the Hong Kong community, and as well the business environment, to return to normalcy,” the statement read.
It also said that press freedom was not absolute, and that the media’s freedom to comment on and criticise government policies remained uninhibited “as long as they do not violate the law.”
“In fact, since the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, the media landscape in Hong Kong has remained vibrant,” it said.
Hong Kong has plummeted in international press freedom indices since the onset of the security law. Watchdogs cite the arrest of journalists, raids on newsrooms and the closure of around 10 media outlets including Apple Daily, Stand News and Citizen News. Over 1,000 journalists have lost their jobs, whilst many have emigrated. Meanwhile, the city’s government-funded broadcaster RTHK has adopted new editorial guidelines, purged its archives and axed news and satirical shows.
See also: Explainer: Hong Kong’s press freedom under the national security law
In 2022, Chief Executive John Lee said press freedom was “in the pocket” of Hongkongers but “nobody is above the law.” Although he has told the press to “tell a good Hong Kong story,” government departments have been reluctant to respond to story pitches.
Jimmy Lai
The Hong Kong statement also addressed Apple Daily tycoon Jimmy Lai’s detention, in a response worded similarly to an earlier condemnation of an overseas legal team that said it represented the mogul.
Lai, 76, who began giving evidence in his national security trial last week, was placed in solitary confinement at his own request, the statement said. Lai has been detained since December 2020 awaiting trial under the national security law.
The resolution also called on the European Union to consider suspending special trade relations between member states and Hong Kong as a separate trade jurisdiction from mainland China, and to suspend extradition treaties with Hong Kong and China.
The Hong Kong statement said in response that any “malicious acts” undermining trade relations would harm European interests.
The statement added: “Turning a blind eye to the facts and making exaggerated remarks, the European Parliament has grossly interfered in China’s internal affairs and Hong Kong’s affairs, demonstrated typical despicable political manipulation and hypocrisy with double standards.
“The HKSAR despises the so called ‘sanctions’ and will not be intimidated,” it added.
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