Global Courant
HONG KONG – China’s foreign ministry in Hong Kong said the resolutions passed by the European Parliament on Thursday regarding the financial center are a “despicable act” and “trade under foot” the principles of international law.
The European Parliament resolution titled The Deterioration of Fundamental Freedoms in Hong Kong, especially the Jimmy Lai case urged the Hong Kong government to release and collect charges against the pro-democracy tycoon and other activists Pull.
It also called on the European Council to introduce “targeted sanctions” against city leader John Lee and other officials “responsible for the ongoing crackdown on human rights in Hong Kong”.
What the sanctions should be was not further explained.
The United States sanctioned Mr Lee in 2020 for his role in the crackdown on political freedoms in the city after Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law on Hong Kong in June of that year.
The law punishes secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces up to life in prison.
China said the resolution, which passed by 483 votes to 9 and 42 abstentions, was “doomed to fail”.
Politicians in the European Parliament “do not take the national economy and people’s livelihood as their own responsibility, but instead use the Hong Kong issue as a publicity stunt under the guise of ‘human rights’, ‘democracy’ and ‘freedom’”, writes the Foreign Ministry’s commissioner in a statement.
“The political drama of a few foreign politicians will not shake the firm determination… to rule Hong Kong according to the law and punish crimes,” it said, adding that parliament “covered up criminals and more beautifully made”.
Government officials in Beijing and Hong Kong say the law only targets a small number of “troublemakers” who threaten national security and protects the rights and freedoms of ordinary Hong Kong people.
The European Parliament said in the resolution that “fundamental freedoms, the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary have deteriorated alarmingly in Hong Kong” since the introduction of the national security law.
Lai, who is in prison, faces four charges under the security law and a colonial-era sedition law.
He has said he will plead not guilty at his trial, which is scheduled to begin in September. REUTERS
