Hong Kong: Council expresses grave concern over national security law
Following an initial discussion in the Foreign Affairs Council on 13 July 2020, the Council today adopted conclusions expressing grave concern over the national security legislation for Hong Kong adopted by the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress on 30 June 2020.
The conclusions restate the EU’s support for Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy under the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ principle, and its solidarity with the people of Hong Kong, whilst setting out a coordinated response package of measures in various fields.
These include among others:
- asylum, migration, visa and residence policy;
- exports of specific sensitive equipment and technologies for end use in Hong Kong;
- scholarships and academic exchanges involving Hong Kong students and universities;
- support to civil society;
- the operation of member states’ extradition arrangements and other relevant agreements with Hong Kong
Lastly the conclusions call for a review of the implementation of the national security law and of the impact of the EU response package before the end of the year.
