​European Parliament members on Thursday adopted a resolution concerning the human rights situation in Hong Kong, urging the Council of the European Union to impose targeted sanctions on Hong Kong officials under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime.

​The text criticized Hong Kong’s National Security Law, in force since 2020, which has drawn international condemnation since its inception and the National Security Safeguarding Ordinance, in force since 2024, demanding their immediate repeal. Official data presented in the text indicates that more than 400 people have been arrested and more than 180 convicted since the beginning of June 2026.

​Furthermore, the resolution condemned the June 2026 arrest of bookseller Leticia Wong, the sentencing of activists Lee Cheuk-yan, Chow Hang-tung, and Albert Ho, and a 20-year prison sentence handed down to media owner Jimmy Lai. Lawmakers called for charges against them to be dropped and for political prisoners to be released following the resolution’s adoption by 459 votes in favor, 12 against, and 86 abstentions.

​While the European Parliament’s formal statement announces the adoption of the text, official documentation regarding precise legislative provisions and follow-up monitoring mechanisms remains dependent on subsequent plenary records published by the European Parliament.

Lawmakers also called on the European Commission to apply sanctions against responsible Hong Kong and Chinese officials and to work toward suspending Hong Kong’s separate membership within the World Trade Organization.

Following the European Parliament’s adoption of the resolution, a spokesperson for the Chinese Mission to the European Union expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition, characterizing the move as a flagrant interference in China’s internal affairs and judicial processes. Beijing defended the actions of Hong Kong judicial authorities, maintaining that the territory is a society governed by the rule of law where individuals who violate local laws must face accountability.

In closing, Chinese officials urged the European Parliament to respect China’s sovereignty and the judicial independence of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, demanding an immediate halt to what Beijing termed irresponsible remarks regarding local legal proceedings.