Hong Kong: Speech by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell at the EP debate
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[Madame] President, Honourable Members [of the European Parliament],
The 1st of July marked the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover and China's promise to guarantee for 50 years Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy and freedoms.
With the imposition by Beijing of the draconian National Security Law in 2020, China broke its promise 27 years before the deadline it had agreed. We have witnessed the rapid dismantling of “One Country Two Systems”. This is a breach of China’s international commitments, notably the 1984 Sino-British Joint declaration, registered at the UN as an international treaty.
We have seen the rapid shrinking of space for civil society, step by step shutdown of independent media – the silencing of voices of dissent. The law has been used to stifle political pluralism and the exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms that are protected under Hong Kong law and international law.
The arrests of 90-year-old Cardinal Zen, pro-democracy former lawmaker Margaret Ng, popstar Denise Ho Wan-sze, and scholar Hui Po-keung for alleged conspiracy to ‘collude with foreign powers’ marked another step in this grim trajectory. Another trustee of the 612 humanitarian relief fund, former Legislative Council member Cyd Ho was arrested on the same charges while already serving a prison sentence. Hong Kong has moved from being a Special Administration Region of China characterised by democracy, pluralism and vibrant civil society to hosting one of the fastest-growing populations of political prisoners in the world. 1,014 political prisoners have been held in Hong Kong since June 2019. More than three-quarters of them are under 30 years old.
The European Union has spoken out repeatedly about the deterioration of the situation in Hong Kong. Last week, on July 1st, the European Union again reiterated publicly its concerns at the removal of fundamental freedoms previously enjoyed by the people of Hong Kong. On the ground, the European Union is committed to supporting the civil society that still remains, notably by attending hearings and trials such as the first hearing of the subjects of today’s debate.
China claims that what is happening in Hong Kong is an internal matter. We reject this. The European Union has a strong stake and interest in Hong Kong, and will not cease its support for universal values within and beyond its borders. We will continue to stand by the people of Hong Kong.
Thank you.
Link to the video (starting as of 21:13): https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-227967