European Parliament calls to free Hong Kong political prisoners and suspend extradition arrangements
On 7 October, the European Parliament adopted a set of policy recommendations on EU-China relations, drafted by its Committee on Foreign Affairs. The text passed by 454 votes to 86, with 110 abstentions, and is addressed to the Council, the Commission and the High Representative.
Regarding Hong Kong, the recommendations urge the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to free Jimmy Lai, Benny Tai, Joshua Wong, Leung Kwok-hung, Owen Chow, Chow Hang-tung and the members of the Hong Kong 47 who remain imprisoned under the National Security Law. They also call for the suspension of all extradition arrangements to Hong Kong until judicial independence and freedom of expression are fully restored.
The text states that the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is legally binding in Hong Kong under the Sino-British Joint Declaration and takes precedence over national security legislation. It also states that fundamental freedoms, the rule of law and judicial independence in Hong Kong have collapsed since the National Security Law was imposed in 2020, and that the PRC has fully breached “one country, two systems.”
The recommendations cite the arrest warrants issued in July 2025 against 19 overseas-based activists, call for an EU-wide framework to counter transnational repression, and call on the PRC to close its so-called overseas police stations in the EU.
Megan Khoo, Policy Director of Hong Kong Watch, said:
“The European Parliament has sent a clear message that Hong Kong cannot be set aside in the EU’s dealings with Beijing. We welcome the Parliament calling for the release of Jimmy Lai, Chow Hang-tung and the Hong Kong 47, as well as suspending extradition to Hong Kong. Hong Kongers across Europe are being targeted for speaking out, including one with an arrest warrant and bounty, and European governments have a duty to protect them. The Council, the Commission and Member States should now act on these recommendations and raise these cases in every meeting with the Chinese government.”
歐洲議會通過歐中關係建議 呼籲釋放香港政治犯並暫停引渡安排
10月7日，歐洲議會通過由議會外交事務委員會草擬的歐中關係政策建議。文本以454票贊成、86票反對、110票棄權獲得通過，並已呈交予歐洲理事會、歐盟委員會和歐盟外交與安全政策高級代表。
關於香港，上述建議促請中國釋放黎智英、戴耀廷、黃之鋒、梁國雄、鄒家成、鄒幸彤和因違反《國家安全法》而仍被監禁的「47人」成員。建議亦呼籲暫停所有引渡到香港的安排，直至司法獨立和言論自由完全恢復為止。
文本指出，根據《中英聯合聲明》，《公民權利及政治權利國際公約》在香港具有法律約束力，並優先於國家安全法例。文本亦指出，自2020年《國安法》實施以來，香港的基本自由、法治和司法獨立已毀於一旦，中國已徹底違反一國兩制。
建議援引2025年7月香港當局懸紅通緝19名海外活動人士事件，呼籲建立全歐盟框架對抗跨國鎮壓，並呼籲中國關閉在歐盟的所謂海外警察站。
香港監察政策總監Megan Khoo表示：
「歐洲議會已傳達清晰信息：歐盟與北京打交道時，不能把香港擱在一邊。我們歡迎議會呼籲釋放黎智英、鄒幸彤和『47人』，並呼籲暫停引渡到香港安排。歐洲各地的香港人因發聲而受到打壓，其中一人被懸紅通緝，歐洲各國政府有責任保護他們。歐洲理事會、歐盟委員會和成員國應立即根據這些建議採取行動，並在每次與中國政府會談時提出這些個案。」
Photo: Nico Ruge on Unsplash