Submission details Hong Kong human-rights abuse
A comprehensive sanctions submission detailing systemic human-rights violations in Hong Kong has been presented to the European Parliament.
The abuses during the 2019-2020 pro-democracy protests, and the subsequent crackdown under national-security laws, are detailed by advocacy group Stand with Hong Kong EU (SWHK EU).
Stand With Hong Kong’s EU branch seeks to keep Hong Kong as a priority on the EU-China strategy.
The submission calls for the immediate use of the EU global human-rights sanctions regime against 14 high-ranking officials.
The list is topped by current chief executive John Lee, former leader Carrie Lam, and Secretary for Security Chris Tang.
The report argues that the actions of the Hong Kong government meet the international threshold for Crimes Against Humanity and Cruel, Inhuman, and Degrading Treatment (CIDT).
Legal precedent
Drawing on legal precedents from the European Court of Human Rights, the submission presents evidence from the 2019 unrest:
- Prince Edward station (Aug 31, 2019): Allegations of indiscriminate ‘terror-style’ assaults by the Special Tactical Squad on civilians, including children and pregnant women, while blocking medical aid,
- Systemic brutality: Video evidence of riot police beating an unarmed, kneeling man and the co-ordinated assault on a ‘Protect Our Kids’ campaign volunteer,
- Ongoing repression: The submission emphasises that the abuse has not ended with the protests. Officials are accused of using ‘bounties’ to hunt activists in exile and harassing their families – tactics described as transnational repression.
Last week MEPs voted overwhelmingly (503 in favour) for a resolution condemning the "arbitrary prosecution" of newspaper publisher Jimmy Lai.
The proposed sanctions – comprising asset freezes and travel bans – would mark a significant shift in EU-China relations.
The US has maintained sanctions on Hong Kong officials since 2020.