Letter on the protests in Hong Kong

Dear High Representative Mogherini,

RE: Protests in Hong Kong

The anti-government movement in Hong Kong, now in its sixth month, is causing increasingly deep divisions across the community.

The protests started over a controversial extradition bill, which has since been withdrawn, but have now evolved into broader anti-government demonstrations, along with calls for full democracy for the territory.

The city has seen its most violent scenes yet in the past week, with people blocking roads and throwing petrol bombs at trains and railway tracks. We have also seen a police officer shooting a young man at close range, a man set on fire after being doused with flammable liquid by a protester, and police entering university campuses for the first time to battle with students, many of whom have apparently been writing their death notes, fearful of being tortured and killed.

It is shocking to see the Hong Kong authorities launch an attack on its own universities.

In July of this year, the European Parliament voted in favour of resolution on the situation in Hong Kong (2019/2732(RSP)).

We must safeguard the Joint Declaration of the Government of the United Kingdom and the Government of the People’s Republic of China on the Question of Hong Kong of 19 December 1984, also known as the Sino-British Joint Declaration.

As well as ensuring the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is upheld, allowing the right to freely protest and protecting the freedom of the press.

As High Representative, we call on you to ensure the European Union closely monitors the situation given the severe nature of events unfolding. We also ask that you immediately hold talks with the Hong Kong Representatives in Brussels condemning the unlawful actions and violence of the police towards the student protests.

In light of the above, I and my colleagues continue to call for an end to repression. The increasing violent nature of the protests has escalated and is harming innocent bystanders and civilians. We must take steps to ensure an independent, impartial, effective and prompt investigation into the use of force by Hong Kong police against protesters.

Yours,

Julie Ward MEP

Kathleen Van Brempt MEP
Paul Tang MEP
Attila ARA-Kovàcs MEP
Jörgen Warborn MEP
Anna Cavazzini MEP
Damian Boeselager MEP
Sheila Ritchie MEP
Dr. Dietmar Köster MEP
Shaffaq Mohammed MEP
Malik Azmani MEP
Karen Melchior MEP
Dr. Klaus Buchner MEP
Rasmus Andresen MEP
Hilde Vautmans MEP
Kristyna Koubkova MEP
Milan Brglez MEP
Petras Auštrevičius MEP
Izaskun Bilbao Barandica MEP
Monika Vana MEP
Jude Kirton-Darling MEP
Bettina Vollath MEP
Phil Bennion MEP
Grace O’Sullivan MEP
Rasa Juknevičienė MEP
Anna Donath MEP
Salima Yenbou MEP
Dragos Pislaru MEP
Erik Marquardt MEP
Heidi Hautala MEP
Molly Scott Cato MEP
Tomas Tobé MEP
Diana Ribe MEP
Erik Bergkvist MEP
Evin Incir MEP
Nikolaj Villumsen MEP
Jessica Polfjärd MEP
Luisa Porritt MEP
Maria Walsh MEP
Anthony Hook MEP
Loránt Vincze MEP
Isabel Carvalhais MEP
Margrete Auken MEP
Andreas Schieder MEP
Evelyn Regner MEP
Agnes Jongerius MEP
Gina Dowding MEP
Bernard Guetta MEP
Miapetra Kumpula-Natri MEP
Scott Ainslie MEP