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BackHong Kong Government Rejects EU Report on Freedoms as Unfounded and Biased
Hong Kong Government Rejects EU Report on Freedoms as Unfounded and Biased
Developing
SCMP Economy52 minutes agoPolitics1 min readChina

Hong Kong Government Rejects EU Report on Freedoms as Unfounded and Biased

Quick Look

  • The Hong Kong government dismissed the European Union's 2025 annual report on Hong Kong as unfounded and biased, rejecting allegations that it is undermining fundamental freedoms.
  • The government urged the EU to respect facts, abide by international law, and stop interference in what it described as China's internal affairs.

AI-generated summary

Why It Matters

The EU's 2025 annual report on Hong Kong criticized national security trials involving pro-democracy activists and the disbandment of the Democratic Party ahead of a 'patriot-only' Legislative Council election.

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The Hong Kong government has rejected an annual European Union report alleging that the administration is undermining the city’s fundamental freedoms, calling its claims “unfounded and biased”.

The more than 4,500-word statement, issued early on Wednesday morning, followed the publication on Tuesday of the EU’s 2025 annual report on Hong Kong. The report was jointly issued by the European Commission and the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas.

It highlighted national security trials involving pro-democracy activists, including media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying and Joshua Wong Chi-fung, as well as the disbandment of the Democratic Party ahead of the second “patriot-only” Legislative Council election, among other issues.

“The HKSAR Government strongly urges the EU to respect facts, abide by international law and basic norms governing international relations, and immediately stop its long-arm jurisdiction and interference in Hong Kong matters, which are purely China’s internal affairs,” the government spokesman said in the statement.

What to Watch

AI outlook — possibilities, not facts

  • The Hong Kong government will continue to reject EU criticism and assert that Hong Kong matters are China's internal affairs.

    Likely · Within weeks

  • The EU may issue further reports or statements monitoring Hong Kong's situation despite Hong Kong's objections.

    Possible · Within months

Open Questions

  • What specific evidence does the EU have to support its claims about undermined freedoms?
  • How will the Hong Kong government respond to ongoing international scrutiny?
  • Will the EU take further action beyond issuing reports?

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This article was originally published by SCMP Economy.

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