“It’s become almost a badge of honour.” Three MEPs sanctioned by China a year ago reflect on the surprising ways their new status has – and has not – .
MEPs call on EU to provide ‘lifeboat policy’ for persecuted Hong Kong dissidents
Demand follows arrest of prominent pro-democracy advocates by China.
PA images
08 Jan 2021
Senior figures in the EU have rounded on China over Beijing s latest crackdown on dissent in Hong Kong.
The strong rebuke comes after Hong Kong police arrested 53 people in dawn raids on democracy activists on Wednesday, in the biggest crackdown since China last year imposed a security law which opponents say is aimed at quashing dissent in the former British colony.
Hong Kong’s most prominent pro-democracy advocates were arrested in raids on 72 premises as the authorities said last year’s unofficial vote to choose opposition candidates in city elections was part of a plan to “overthrow” the government.
Cross-party group of MEPs call for action over Hong Kong arrests
Published 3 months ago
The cross-party group of co-chairs of the Hong Kong Watch Group of the European Parliament have united to condemn the arrest of over 50 Hong Kong pan-democrat politicians, activists and lawyers and call on Presidents Michel (Council) and von der Leyen (European Commission), EU High Representative Borrell, as well as EU member states’ governments to take urgent action.
Those arrested had taken part in a primary polling for pro-democracy groups last year, with the aim of standing in the Legislative Council elections, which were later illegitimately postponed. Those arrested have been charged with ‘subversion’ under the controversial Hong Kong National Security Law. The MEPs say this reinforces their view that the law is being used to crack down on all forms of political opposition.