Hong Kong accuses the EU of an “tender” report on freedoms

Through an extensive statement, a spokesman for the local executive urged the European institutions to “immediately put an end to any interference” in the jurisdiction of the territory, recalling its condition as an inalienable part of the People’s Republic of China under the principle “one country, two systems”.

As regards public policy, the Hong Kong Administration maintained that the legal framework for security restored socio-economic stability without compromising the procedural guarantees laid down in the Basic Law, the mini-constitution of that territory.

The spokesman also ensured that the judicial bodies exercise their powers with full autonomy and impartiality and rejected that the resignation of several non-permanent foreign judges from the superior court has weakened the British tradition ‘common law’ system in force in Hong Kong.

The executive also presented procedural details on criminal proceedings against media entrepreneur Jimmy Lai, whom Brussels was concerned about.

In this regard, it was necessary that the conviction of 20 years in prison took place in 156 public hearing sessions and in the expert review of more than 80,000 pages of documentary evidence, stressing that the court judged concrete criminal acts and not political convictions, besides recalling that the convict chose not to appeal the sentence.

With regard to the freedoms of assembly, association and press, the Government argued that the civil rights provided for in the international treaties are not absolute and may therefore be subject to legal restrictions provided for in the name of collective security.

The Hong Kong authorities also criticised the “two weights and two measures” of the twenty-seven and recalled that 14 Member States of the European Union have been involved in scandals related to the misuse of software for covert surveillance and interception of communications against journalists and political leaders.

Finally, the spokesman reiterated the current model of parliamentary representation, articulated according to the principle of “countrymen to govern Hong Kong”, arguing that there is no single model of democracy and warned that any external manoeuvre aimed at destabilizing sovereignty or the development of the territory will be “fruitless”.

In the report, the European Commission and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs maintain that the “continuous erosion” of Hong Kong’s autonomy and fundamental rights and freedoms persist, which they attach to the increasing burden given by the authorities to national security.

Brussels stresses the continuation, in 2025, of proceedings against activists, lawyers and pro-democracy politicians under the National Security Act and other legislation, including the case of Jimmy Lai, convicted in December of national security and sedition charges.

The document also refers to the presentation of a new charge against activist Joshua Wong for alleged conspiracy to collusion with foreign forces, as well as the issuing of arrest warrants, accompanied by rewards, against 15 other activists residing abroad, including a European citizen.

According to the report, the year was still marked by the dissolution of the remaining Hong Kong opposition parties before the elections to the Legislative Council in December, including the Democratic Party, which became the largest political force in the local parliament.

On the civil rights front, Brussels pointed out court decisions in favour of advancing the rights of LGBTIQ+ persons, but stressed the parliamentary rejection of a project aimed at creating an alternative framework for same-sex unions following a decision of the superior court of September 2023.

On Macau, it is noted in the report, “the year 2025 was marked by a greater erosion of fundamental rights and freedoms that should be protected until at least 2049”, according to the Joint Sino-Portuguese Declaration signed in 1987, which stipulates that the social and economic system of Macao should remain unchanged for at least 50 years under the principle of “one country, two systems”.