The European Conservatives and Reformists Party expresses its deepest concern at the overnight arrests of at least 52 pro-democracy politicians and activists in Hong Kong.

The String of arrests, which took place early in the morning on the 6th of January, represent the most recent attempt by the pro-Beijing administration in Hong Kong to supress pro-democracy activists who are fighting to defend the autonomy of the region as recognised in International Law under the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ principle established in the Sino-British Joint Declaration (1984).

These arrests come against the backdrop of increasing authoritarianism by the pro-Beijing administration who passed a series of controversial ‘Security Measures’ last year, amidst protests over democratic sovereignty in Hong Kong. Since the beginning of the protests over 10,000 pro-democracy protestors have been arrested, including politicians and journalists.

The ECR Party calls for the release of these activists and politicians, and calls on the European Union to condemn these arrests in the strongest terms, and consider introducing Magnitsky sanctions against Chief Executive Carrie Lam, and Justice Minister Teresa Cheng.

The arrests also come at a time where the European Union is negotiating a new Investment Agreement with China.

ECR Party Secretary General Anna Fotyga MEP Said: “I call on the European Union to launch an impact assessment on the new EU-China Investment Agreement, looking at the effect on Human Rights that the agreement will have, in particular with an emphasis on the situation in Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Tibet.”