Hong Kong authorities have condemned a resolution strongly backed by the European Parliament to sanction officials and revoke the city’s special trade status to protest against former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s conviction in a national security trial.
The city government on Thursday evening also condemned the body for making “groundless accusations” against Hong Kong and using Lai’s case to smear its national security legislation.
“The Hong Kong government strongly urges the European Parliament to get a clear understanding of the facts as soon as possible and turn back from its wrong path,” a spokesman said.
Earlier on Thursday, 503 parliament members voted in favour of the non-binding resolution at a plenary session in Strasbourg, France, with only nine voting against it. There were 100 abstentions.
Thursday’s joint motion, which was co-sponsored by 59 members, condemned Lai’s conviction “in the strongest terms” while calling for his immediate and unconditional release, alongside “all other individuals [in Hong Kong] detained for exercising their freedoms, including religious and democratic rights”.