EU Parliament reiterates support for lifeboat, Magnitsky sanctions against Chinese and Hong Kong officials, and calls for suspension of extradition treaties with the PRC

On 17 December 2020, the European Parliament passed a joint-resolution on the persecution of the Uyghurs which included references to the worsening human rights situation in Hong Kong, reiterated calls for the implementation of a lifeboat for Hong Kongers, and backed Hong Kong Watch’s calls for Magnitsky sanctions to be used against Chinese and Hong Kong officials and for EU Member States to suspend extradition treaties with the People’s Republic of China.

The joint-resolution at the European Parliament’s plenary session in December, focused primarily on the treatment of the Uyghurs in Xinjiang but also covered human rights in China more broadly. With Hong Kong Watch and other organisations feeding into the resolutions proposals.

Commenting on the European Parliament joint-resolution, Sam Goodman, Hong Kong Watch’s Senior Policy Adviser said:

“Last week the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of a lifeboat for Hong Kongers, Magnitsky sanctions for Chinese and Hong Kong officials guilty of human rights abuses, and the suspension of extradition treaties between EU Member States and the People’s Republic of China.

Hong Kong Watch hopes that the EU Commission and EU Member States will listen to the European Parliament and implement lifeboat schemes, Magnitsky sanctions, and the suspension of extradition treaties as a matter of urgency.

This package of measures would ensure a robust response from Europe to the deteriorating human rights crisis in Hong Kong.” 

The full resolution can be found here: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2020-0375_EN.html