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Hong Kong: National Security Law cases (Jimmy Lai & 45 activists)

COMCMT1R-EP1R-C2R-EPCNCADO

Updated 21mo ago

The European Parliament condemns the use of national security laws in Hong Kong, citing the cases of Jimmy Lai and 45 activists, and calls for their immediate release.

The resolution highlights the deterioration of fundamental freedoms and the rule of law in Hong Kong since the introduction of the National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance.

It urges the Hong Kong government to release all pro-democracy activists and drop charges, condemns the extraterritorial application of the law, and calls for targeted sanctions against officials responsible for human rights violations.

The Parliament also calls for an EU legal defence fund for democracy activists, urges member states to suspend extradition treaties, and to consider legal action against China at the International Court of Justice.

Documents

Hong Kong, notably the cases of Jimmy Lai and the 45 activists recently convicted under the national security law

position · EN · 2026-04-01

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Analysis

AI-generated·2 Apr 2026·Source document·Unverified

The resolution condemns the sentencing of pro-democracy activists on national security charges, stating this violates international law.

What changes

The resolution calls for the repeal of the National Security Law (NSL) and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO).
The resolution urges the immediate and unconditional release of all pro-democracy activists and the dropping of all charges against them.
The resolution calls on Member States to suspend extradition treaties with Chinese and Hong Kong authorities.
The resolution calls for the Council to review its 2020 conclusions on Hong Kong and to impose targeted sanctions on specific officials.
The resolution calls for the revocation of Hong Kong's favourable customs treatment.
The resolution calls for a review of the status of the Hong Kong Economic Trade Office in Brussels.
The resolution urges Member States to file an International Court of Justice (ICJ) case against China's decision to impose the NSL on Hong Kong and Macau.

Expected impact

The resolution calls for the repeal of the National Security Law (NSL) and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO).
The resolution urges the Hong Kong Government to release pro-democracy activists and drop charges against them.
The resolution condemns the extraterritorial application of the NSL and transnational repression by Chinese and Hong Kong authorities against diaspora communities within the EU.

Limitations

The document is a resolution and does not contain specific legal provisions that are being amended or introduced in the same way as a legislative proposal. The analysis focuses on the calls to action and condemnations made within the resolution.
The document refers to previous resolutions and external events (e.g., trials, arrests) but does not provide the full context or legal basis for these events beyond what is stated in the resolution itself.
The document does not detail the specific legal mechanisms or procedures for imposing targeted sanctions or revoking customs treatment, only calls for these actions to be taken.

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