EU complains about China's repression in Hong Kong
An EU report paints a bleak picture of the situation in Hong Kong: China's government has continued to massively restrict the fundamental freedoms that are actually guaranteed. The repression was particularly aimed at the pro-democracy movement.With a new report on developments in Hong Kong, leading EU officials make serious allegations against the political leadership in Beijing. In the past year, Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy as well as democratic principles and fundamental freedoms have been further weakened, according to a statement on the analysis of the EU Commission by Ursula von der Leyen and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.The developments raised additional doubts about China's commitment to the "one country, two systems" principle. This actually provides that the citizens of the former British crown colony of Hong Kong will enjoy “a high degree of autonomy” and many freedoms until 2047. Britain returned Hong Kong to China on July 1, 1997.
145 people chargedHowever, the government in Beijing has been pushing back on these rights since the introduction of the national security law in 2020. According to the EU report, the year 2022 was also marked by “the far-reaching implementation” of the security law. "The court cases against pro-democracy activists and politicians continued to mount." More than 230 people were arrested. Charges were brought against 145 people and five companies, the conviction rate was 100 percent.In addition, many people were waiting for their trial. Among them are 47 pro-democracy activists who took part in a primary election and members of the now-defunct Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China. Many of them have been in custody since January 2021, some even in solitary confinement.
Economic commitment still highRegarding the situation of press freedom, it is said that this has deteriorated significantly in 2022. Numerous independent media companies have ceased their activities, and journalists have been arrested and charged. Hong Kong was downgraded 68 places to 148th out of 180 countries in the 2022 press freedom rankings compiled by the journalist organization Reporters Without Borders.According to the report, however, there have been no dramatic effects on economic relations between the European Union and Hong Kong so far. With 1,600 companies, the EU continued to be the largest foreign economic community in 2022 and Hong Kong's third-largest trading partner in goods trade, it said. Bilateral trade in services between the EU and Hong Kong has even increased by around 25 percent and investments in both directions are still at a considerable level.
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