City accuses European Parliament of ‘hypocrisy’
Hong Kong has accused the European Union’s lawmaking body of “political hegemony and hypocrisy” over a non-binding resolution that took aim at the city’s national security laws and called for media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s unconditional release.
City authorities on Thursday night also slammed the European Parliament over its push for sanctions against Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and other officials, calling the move “political grandstanding rife with ill intentions”.
A government spokesman began the strongly worded statement by stressing that Hong Kong had a constitutional duty to safeguard national security, which was an inherent right of all sovereign states.
“Many common law jurisdictions, including … the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, as well as Singapore, have enacted multiple pieces of legislation to safeguard national security,” he said.
“Turning a blind eye to that fact and making exaggerated remarks, the parliament has demonstrated typical political hegemony and hypocrisy with double standards.”
Members of the European Parliament on Wednesday used their last session before an election in June to adopt a non-binding urgency resolution that called for the repeal of Hong Kong’s domestic national security law and earlier legislation imposed by Beijing.
The passage of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance was required under Article 23 of the Basic Law.
The government said the legislation had addressed weaknesses in the city’s legal system and enforcement mechanisms that protected national security.
“We must once again emphasise that the ordinance is a piece of legislation to defend against external forces that endanger our national security, acting like a sturdier door and a more effective lock to defend our home,” it said.
The spokesman said the new law would not affect normal business operations or the exchanges of local institutions, organisations and individuals with the rest of the world. He stressed that the legislation posed no threat to law-abiding people.
Hong Kong authorities also highlighted that safeguarding national security fell within the internal affairs of a sovereign jurisdiction. “The European Parliament has blatantly clamoured for so-called ‘sanctions’ against [Hong Kong] personnel who dutifully safeguard national security,” the government said.
The European Parliament’s resolution reiterated a long-standing request for the EU to impose sanctions on Lee, as well as all Hong Kong and Beijing officials “responsible for the crackdown on freedoms” in the city.
European politicians also urged Hong Kong authorities to “immediately and unconditionally release and drop all charges” against Apple Daily founder Lai and activist turned prosecution witness Andy Li Yu-hin in the tycoon’s national security trial.
The city government on Thursday said it was inappropriate for anyone to comment on the case as legal proceedings involving Lai were still ongoing.
“All defendants will receive a fair trial strictly in accordance with laws applicable to Hong Kong and as protected by the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights,” the spokesman said.
“Any attempt by any country, organisation, or individual to interfere with the judicial proceedings in [Hong Kong] by means of political power or media or any other means, thereby resulting in a defendant not being able to have a fair trial that one should receive, is a reprehensible act undermining the rule of law of [Hong Kong].”
Lai, 76, is standing trial on two conspiracy charges of collusion with foreign forces and a third of conspiracy to print and distribute seditious publications.
The European Parliament typically discusses three urgency resolutions covering what it considers to be topical human rights issues at each of its plenary sessions. They are negotiated quickly among a small group of lawmakers, before being debated and voted on.